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Top 10 Conservative Idiots #16-13: The Greatest Shit Show On Earth Edition
Top 10 Conservative Idiots #16-13: The Greatest Shit Show On Earth Edition
Welcome back to the Top 10 Conservative Idiots! Yoooooooooooooooooooooo!!! What’s up Oxnard, how you guys doing? You doing fucking good? Great! Holy shit, can you believe that it’s the next to last edition of season 16? I mean… damn. Time flies doesn’t it? Well, anyway I do have to say that we will have some major announcements coming up regarding our 17th season so you don’t want to miss what we have in store! Of course next week is the Stupidest State championship round, and man what a tournament it has been! The champagne is on ice and we can’t wait to crown our new Stupidest State for 2024! And yes, next week we will be having a blunt discussion about the long term future of our program and I can promise you, an announcement is coming! Do we have time for the thing? Of course we do! So our Holy Shit segment this week is focusing on the fallout from the absolutely batshit insane commencement speech from Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker. But this is a classic example of how online misinformation gets out in the open. So what happened was – Eddie Vedder, you know him as the lead singer of a little band called Pearl Jam, stopped the show during the middle of the set in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand to rant about Butker’s speech. Well, rumors went flying that Arrowhead Stadium canceled 3 consecutive appearances by Pearl Jam, which led to the “go woke go broke” crowd to fling their feces against the walls. So it turns out that the current Pearl Jam tour, for their new album Dark Matter is indoor arena only, they never actually booked Arrowhead Stadium. Yeah cue the Price Is Right fail horn! The stupid just get stupider, don’t they? OK that’s enough of the intro, but first John Oliver is back with yet another deep dive into the opiate industry and the fallout from the Sackler scandal:
So where do we begin this week? In the number one slot this week is of course the Orange Turd trial (1) and while the trial is turning into a shit show of OJ Simpson proportions, the real insanity is happening outside the trial, where Fox News has set up an open mic night for MAGA Congress people, and none is more off the rails than Tommy Tuberville is. In the second slot this week is Greg Abbott (2) and the Fox News installed governor of Texas is basically giving the middle finger to protestors everywhere and simply pardoning notorious BLM murderer Daniel Perry. So yeah, yet another reason why we can’t have nice things in this country! In the third slot this week is the Supreme Court (3), and MAGA has basically given up on logic and tried to get a case through to SCOTUS that would have shut down a crucial government agency and triggered a second Great Depression, but thankfully there were some cooler heads that prevailed! In the number 4 slot this week is Elon Musk (4). And yes, thanks to Ol’ Muskrat’s increasingly erratic online behavior, your Tesla may be the target of thieves and vandalism, and yes, you know who you can thank for that! In the number 5 slot this week is a new edition of our segment that explores never ending corporate greed in “Late Stage Capitalism” (5) and it seems that Taylor Swift fans have found a loophole in seeing their idol live, and that is that tickets in Europe are much cheaper than they are here in the United States. Who do we thank for that? Market deregulation. In the number 6 slot this week is of course our weekly visit to the Holy Church Of The Top 10 in “Holy Shit” (6) and this week, if you still aren’t convinced of the United States’ slide into becoming a religious authoritarian state, we’re going to do a Who’s Who of the people behind it, and trust us when we say that these are people who you wouldn’t trust to run a Waffle House, let alone the White House! And in the number 7 slot, we are going to add part time MAGA Qongress woman and full time professional Trump ass kisser and Fox News correspondent Anna Paulina Luna (Q – Batshit) to the ever-growing list of People Who Somehow Got Elected. In the number 8 slot this week is our weekly venture into the never-ending world of online tin foil hat nuttery in Conspiracy Corner (8) and this week, the Daily Wire is trying to get into the streaming service, and their first offering is an absolutely terrible cartoon from Adam Corolla called “Mr. Bircham”, and well, it’s every bit as horrible as it sounds! In the number 9 (NEIN!!!) slot this week is a new I Need A Drink (9) and we love a good beef around here, and the feud between LA’s Kendrick Lamar and Toronto’s Drake is the stuff of pure, unfiltered beefy insanity! Finally this week it’s time for Stupidest State 2024! It’s the Final Four, everybody and anything can happen! Texas vs Alabama for the Layover League championship, and Arizona vs South Dakota for the Flyover League championship! Anything can and will happen! We’re live from New Orleans with all the exciting action! Plus to close things out, we have the legendary Hozier joining us! Buy his new album Unreal Unearth or you’re no friend of this program! Enjoy! And as always don’t forget the key!
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[font size="8"]The Trump Trial Shit Show
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Last week, we compared the ongoing Trump trial to the OJ Simpson trial, and we’ll most likely come to regret that comparison as this shit show goes on. And you know what? The circus is in town. Why don’t we pay tribute to the real circus and call this “The Greatest Shit Show On Earth”? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!! Gotta love our graphics department! Fox News is not only making a mockery of our American justice system, they’ve literally turned this trial into a way too literal 3 ring circus. Don’t believe me? Observe! The first ring is the trial itself – where Trump is turning the inside and outside of the trial into his own personal megaphone. While the second ring is unfolding on Fox News every night, particularly Hannity, who’s doing his best to torpedo this trial. The third ring is taking place outside the trial, where MAGA representatives and senators are taking their shot at the vice presidential auditions with this weird microphone setup, where they were taking turns speaking like it was open mic night at the Chuckle Hut. None were more embarrassing, pathetic, sad, or put on a blatant display of public Trump ass kissing like Alabama Fox News correspondent, er, senator Tommy Tuberville did.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) emerged from court proceedings Monday in former President Trump’s hush money criminal trial and called the Manhattan courtroom “the most depressing thing I’ve ever been in.”
“First of all, I’m disappointed in the courtroom. I’m hearing, ‘Mr. Trump, Mr. Trump.’ He is ‘former President Trump,’” Tuberville said to the media outside the courtroom.
“Give him some respect. I mean, that’s what that place is in there. It is no respect. Here is what I’m seeing, too. It is depressing. That courtroom is depressing. This is New York City. The icon of our country. And we got a courtroom that is the most depressing thing I’ve ever been in.”
Tuberville took aim at Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D), who he said enters the courtroom and “acts like it is his Super Bowl.”
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4661239-tuberville-trump-trial-most-depressing/
“First of all, I’m disappointed in the courtroom. I’m hearing, ‘Mr. Trump, Mr. Trump.’ He is ‘former President Trump,’” Tuberville said to the media outside the courtroom.
“Give him some respect. I mean, that’s what that place is in there. It is no respect. Here is what I’m seeing, too. It is depressing. That courtroom is depressing. This is New York City. The icon of our country. And we got a courtroom that is the most depressing thing I’ve ever been in.”
Tuberville took aim at Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D), who he said enters the courtroom and “acts like it is his Super Bowl.”
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4661239-tuberville-trump-trial-most-depressing/
Oh come the fuck on! What did you expect? The latest episode of Spongebob Squarepants? Holy shit they really don’t get it, do they? And we’re going to need some kind of surgical procedure to remove his lips from Truimp’s ass, and there’s a lot of competition for that space, unfortunately. I’m more disappointed that the judge hasn’t yet put a gag order on Fox News, who’s doing everything they can to torpedo this trial. But what is even more disgusting about Tuberville’s blatant display of public ass kissing is that he went to New York to specifically defy Trump’s gag order. What the fuck? Do they not know how a gag order works? Oh who am I kidding? Of course they don’t!
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), the day after he attended part of Donald Trump’s criminal hush-money trial in New York—later doubting jurors’ citizenship and complaining about how the indicted former president is enduring “mental anguish” in the “depressing” courtroom—admitted Tuesday that “one of the reasons” for his appearance and comments was “to overcome this gag order” imposed on Trump.
Tuberville was joined by Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), who criticized Judge Juan Merchan’s daughter—something that the gag order prohibits Trump himself from doing. He is also prohibited from directing others to speak about witnesses and the jury, among others. On Tuesday, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum made similar comments to Vance, and when asked later on CNN if Trump had told him to speak about Merchan’s daughter, he said he had not.
Tuberville did not return a request for comment to The Daily Beast by the time of publication as to whether Trump had asked him to appear in court and speak to reporters afterward. But what Tuberville did say on Newsmax about Trump was nevertheless revealing.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/tommy-tuberville-says-he-spoke-at-trumps-trial-to-overcome-this-gag-order
Tuberville was joined by Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), who criticized Judge Juan Merchan’s daughter—something that the gag order prohibits Trump himself from doing. He is also prohibited from directing others to speak about witnesses and the jury, among others. On Tuesday, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum made similar comments to Vance, and when asked later on CNN if Trump had told him to speak about Merchan’s daughter, he said he had not.
Tuberville did not return a request for comment to The Daily Beast by the time of publication as to whether Trump had asked him to appear in court and speak to reporters afterward. But what Tuberville did say on Newsmax about Trump was nevertheless revealing.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/tommy-tuberville-says-he-spoke-at-trumps-trial-to-overcome-this-gag-order
And by the way, when we say that there’s a lot of people in Congress who are fighting for the real estate to be able to put their lips on Trump’s ass, well, we mean there’s a lot of competition for that trial. The real shit show in this trial is happening outside the trial. And if you’re not watching the megaphone shit show, well, you’re missing out. Because it’s a venerable who’s who of right wing insanity. The GOP is sending their best and brightest… ha ha ha, who am I kidding? Those people don’t exist. Instead they’re sending their loudest and dumbest to the plate to bat for Trump. But it’s backfiring in the most spectacular way as they’re getting heckled and drowned out to oblivion!
Former President Donald Trump's hush-money trial in New York is suddenly the biggest magnet for ambitious Republican politicians hoping to demonstrate their loyalty.
In recent weeks, the Manhattan criminal courthouse has played host to the speaker of the House, several GOP senators and vice-presidential contenders, over a dozen House members, and even two state attorneys general.
It's resulted in at least one senator missing a vote, the postponing of a congressional mark-up, and a bevy of Republican heavyweights turning themselves into attack dogs for the presumptive 2024 nominee — who remains barred from criticizing jurors and witnesses via a gag order.
And Trump has yet to receive a courtroom visit from his own wife, Melania.
https://www.businessinsider.com/which-republicans-attended-trump-hush-money-trial-2024-5#sen-rick-scott-was-the-first-elected-republican-to-show-up-he-ended-up-missing-a-vote-1
In recent weeks, the Manhattan criminal courthouse has played host to the speaker of the House, several GOP senators and vice-presidential contenders, over a dozen House members, and even two state attorneys general.
It's resulted in at least one senator missing a vote, the postponing of a congressional mark-up, and a bevy of Republican heavyweights turning themselves into attack dogs for the presumptive 2024 nominee — who remains barred from criticizing jurors and witnesses via a gag order.
And Trump has yet to receive a courtroom visit from his own wife, Melania.
https://www.businessinsider.com/which-republicans-attended-trump-hush-money-trial-2024-5#sen-rick-scott-was-the-first-elected-republican-to-show-up-he-ended-up-missing-a-vote-1
Yeah probably! So the list of Fox News installed MAGA senators and reps keeps growing – and no one will listen! As we see from this footage of the Youtube channel Right Side Broadcasting – which as we call it here, the Home Shopping Channel for Insurrectionists – nobody is paying attention! You’d think Trump’s flock of the heavily brainwashed would flock to be at his defense, but apparently they’re nowhere to be found! Ha ha! Thank you Nelson! But if you thought Tommy Tuberville’s statement was utterly embarrassing, along comes another Fox installed senator – Ohio’s JD Vance, who’s saying “hold my beer and watch this!”
Vance, who is currently thought to be on the shortlist of Trump’s potential running mates, arrived in court after he spent part of the weekend going on TV and defending the GOP presumptive nominee against claims that he might be antisemitic. He is also set to appear with Trump on Wednesday at a rally in Cincinnati.
Later Monday morning, Vance took to X to share some of his “observations” from the trial—which included the claim that the main goal of prosecuting Trump for alleged business fraud is “psychological torture.”
“I saw a media report a few days ago that Trump looked like he was falling asleep or bored or something,” Vance went on to say. “The obvious narrative they’re trying to sell is ‘yeah Biden is mentally unfit but this other guy is bad too.’ It’s an absurd narrative. I’m 39 years old and I’ve been here for 26 minutes and I’m about to fall asleep.”
The vice presidential hopeful also assailed Cohen’s credibility—something Trump has been barred from doing thanks to a gag order handed down several weeks ago by Judge Juan Merchan, who is handling the case.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-shows-up-to-court-with-jd-vance-and-tommy-tuberville-in-tow
Later Monday morning, Vance took to X to share some of his “observations” from the trial—which included the claim that the main goal of prosecuting Trump for alleged business fraud is “psychological torture.”
“I saw a media report a few days ago that Trump looked like he was falling asleep or bored or something,” Vance went on to say. “The obvious narrative they’re trying to sell is ‘yeah Biden is mentally unfit but this other guy is bad too.’ It’s an absurd narrative. I’m 39 years old and I’ve been here for 26 minutes and I’m about to fall asleep.”
The vice presidential hopeful also assailed Cohen’s credibility—something Trump has been barred from doing thanks to a gag order handed down several weeks ago by Judge Juan Merchan, who is handling the case.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-shows-up-to-court-with-jd-vance-and-tommy-tuberville-in-tow
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[font size="8"]Greg Abbott
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2020 was an absolutely batshit insane year wasn’t it? We had the COVID pandemic, we had the George Floyd riots, and on top of that we fired Donald Trump. Of course that doesn’t mean that he hasn’t burnt down the country with him since he spectacularly went down in flames. Lost in all of the onslaught of news stories that happened in that year – was Daniel Perry, a former Army sergeant and Uber rideshare driver who became the infamous BLM killer in Austin, Texas – murdering BLM protestor Garrett Foster in cold blood. Well, 3 years later, he was convicted and sentenced in Austin of first degree murder, serving a minimum of 25 years to life in prison. That was until last week. One of the many reasons why we can’t have nice things in this country – the Fox News installed governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, decided to pardon Mr. Perry and release him from prison. Yes, between this and Kyle Rittenhouse, this is giving a green light for more copycat protest murders to happen.
Governor Greg Abbott of Texas issued a full pardon on Thursday to a former US army sergeant convicted of murder for fatally shooting an armed demonstrator in 2020 during nationwide protests against police violence and racial injustice.
Abbott announced the pardon just minutes after the Texas board of pardons and paroles disclosed it had made a unanimous recommendation that Daniel Perry be pardoned and have his firearms rights restored. Perry has been held in state prison on a 25-year sentence since his conviction in 2023.
The Republican governor had previously ordered the board to review Perry’s case and said earlier that he would sign a pardon if recommended. The board, which is appointed by the governor, announced its unanimous recommendation in a message posted on the agency website, and Abbott’s pardon swiftly followed.
A jury in Austin had convicted Perry of murder in the death of 28-year-old Garrett Foster, an air force veteran who had been legally carrying an AK-47 while marching in a Black Lives Matter protest. Perry was working as a ride-share driver in July 2020, when he turned his car on to a street crowded with demonstrators and shot Foster before driving off.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/16/texas-greg-abbott-pardons-daniel-perry
Abbott announced the pardon just minutes after the Texas board of pardons and paroles disclosed it had made a unanimous recommendation that Daniel Perry be pardoned and have his firearms rights restored. Perry has been held in state prison on a 25-year sentence since his conviction in 2023.
The Republican governor had previously ordered the board to review Perry’s case and said earlier that he would sign a pardon if recommended. The board, which is appointed by the governor, announced its unanimous recommendation in a message posted on the agency website, and Abbott’s pardon swiftly followed.
A jury in Austin had convicted Perry of murder in the death of 28-year-old Garrett Foster, an air force veteran who had been legally carrying an AK-47 while marching in a Black Lives Matter protest. Perry was working as a ride-share driver in July 2020, when he turned his car on to a street crowded with demonstrators and shot Foster before driving off.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/16/texas-greg-abbott-pardons-daniel-perry
Yeah BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Once again – we cannot have nice things in this country, not ever! As long as we have a sadistic, vindictive, piss poor excuse for a news network controlling the entire GOP and who has it out for half the country while wanting to install a dictatorship in the White House. Yes, Greg Abbott has gone mad with power because Fox News lets him get away with it. But that’s neither here nor is it there. So how did Perry get pardoned? Well it’s Texas, a state where guns have more rights than people do. They have a “Stand Your Ground” law similar to Florida’s, and well, it’s a shit show.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a pardon Thursday for Daniel Perry, a former Army sergeant who shot and killed an armed protester at a Black Lives Matter protest.
Perry was sentenced to 25 years in prison last May for fatally shooting Garrett Foster, a 28-year-old Air Force veteran, at a demonstration against police violence and social injustice in Austin, Texas. Both Perry and Foster are white.
The governor had signaled his intentions by directing the state Board of Pardons and Paroles to send him a legally required recommendation soon after Perry was convicted. The governor, who was under pressure from right-wing media figures to intervene, said the shooting amounted to self-defense.
“Texas has one of the strongest ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws of self-defense that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney,” Abbott said in a statement. “I thank the Board for its thorough investigation, and I approve their pardon recommendation.”
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/16/abbott-pardon-man-fatally-shot-black-lives-matter-protester-00158549
Perry was sentenced to 25 years in prison last May for fatally shooting Garrett Foster, a 28-year-old Air Force veteran, at a demonstration against police violence and social injustice in Austin, Texas. Both Perry and Foster are white.
The governor had signaled his intentions by directing the state Board of Pardons and Paroles to send him a legally required recommendation soon after Perry was convicted. The governor, who was under pressure from right-wing media figures to intervene, said the shooting amounted to self-defense.
“Texas has one of the strongest ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws of self-defense that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney,” Abbott said in a statement. “I thank the Board for its thorough investigation, and I approve their pardon recommendation.”
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/16/abbott-pardon-man-fatally-shot-black-lives-matter-protester-00158549
So is this a Stand Your Ground defense or is it just plain murder? Thanks to our exponentially increasingly batshit insane gun laws, or lack of gun laws in this country, we may never know the answer to that one. And here’s the thing – MAGA talks a lot of shit about pardons, but they never mention that a pardon includes an admission of guilt. This whole thing stinks and we can’t quite put our fingers on it, but we know there’s dark forces out there allowing republican power to go unchecked and without any accountability for it. One thing we do know for absolute certain is that between this and Rittenhouse, it will further inspire copycats.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Thursday pardoned a former U.S. Army sergeant convicted of killing a Black Lives Matter protester in Austin in 2020.
The big picture: Daniel Perry was sentenced to 25 years in prison last year for fatally shooting U.S. Air Force veteran Garrett Foster.
Following Perry's conviction, Abbott announced that he has asked the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles determine if Perry should be granted a pardon.
State of play: Abbott issued a proclamation Thursday pardoning Perry after the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles issued a unanimous recommendation of full pardon.
"Among the voluminous files reviewed by the Board, they considered information provided by the Travis County District Attorney, the full investigative report on Daniel Perry, plus a review of all the testimony provided at trial," Abbott said in a statement.
"Texas has one of the strongest 'Stand Your Ground' laws of self-defense that canno
https://www.axios.com/2024/05/16/greg-abbott-pardon-daniel-perry
The big picture: Daniel Perry was sentenced to 25 years in prison last year for fatally shooting U.S. Air Force veteran Garrett Foster.
Following Perry's conviction, Abbott announced that he has asked the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles determine if Perry should be granted a pardon.
State of play: Abbott issued a proclamation Thursday pardoning Perry after the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles issued a unanimous recommendation of full pardon.
"Among the voluminous files reviewed by the Board, they considered information provided by the Travis County District Attorney, the full investigative report on Daniel Perry, plus a review of all the testimony provided at trial," Abbott said in a statement.
"Texas has one of the strongest 'Stand Your Ground' laws of self-defense that canno
https://www.axios.com/2024/05/16/greg-abbott-pardon-daniel-perry
Yeah so as we’ve seen previously, what level of guilt you face when murdering protestors who you don’t agree with varies greatly depending on whether or not the judge watches the same talk shows that you do. If you want to commit first degree murder and get away with it, just commit yourself to watching Fox News 12 hours a day, and use the same language that you do in your deposition hearing. If the judge also watches Hannity, your chances of getting off greatly increase! Yes, because Texas has one of the most batshit insane “Stand Your Ground” laws in the entire country, Perry was able to walk free. This is why elections matter. Fox News has an iron grip on the Lone Star State, and they’re not loosening their grip anytime soon. Things like this, though, are why that grip must be loosened and Abbott must be unseated.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice said in a statement that he has been released from prison.
Perry was found guilty in April 2023 of fatally shooting Garrett Foster, who was attending a BLM protest in Austin following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
The day after Perry's conviction, Gov. Abbott requested that the parole board investigate and make a recommendation regarding a potential pardon for Perry.
A statement by the parole board said its members conducted a thorough review of the case, examining police reports, court records, witness statements and conducting interviews with individuals connected to the case. The board's unanimous decision to recommend a full pardon was reached Thursday, May 16, and conveyed to Gov. Abbott.
https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/texas-parole-board-unanimously-recommends-pardon-in-blm-protester-murder-case
Perry was found guilty in April 2023 of fatally shooting Garrett Foster, who was attending a BLM protest in Austin following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
The day after Perry's conviction, Gov. Abbott requested that the parole board investigate and make a recommendation regarding a potential pardon for Perry.
A statement by the parole board said its members conducted a thorough review of the case, examining police reports, court records, witness statements and conducting interviews with individuals connected to the case. The board's unanimous decision to recommend a full pardon was reached Thursday, May 16, and conveyed to Gov. Abbott.
https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/texas-parole-board-unanimously-recommends-pardon-in-blm-protester-murder-case
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[font size="8"]CFPB Vs Community Financial Services
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OK so you know how in action movies when the hero finds some way to miraculously save the world with mere seconds to spare at the end of the movie? Like think James Bond at the end of Goldfinger when he stops the bomb from going off, which would have been absolutely disastrous. Such was the case where two dueling organizations were fighting for a chance to be heard at the Supreme Court level, and if it had actually gone to SCOTUS, it could have triggered a 2nd Great Depression. Thankfully, the powers that be, decided that maybe yeah this was an extremely terrible idea. So we’ve all heard all of the rumors, all of the articles suggesting that America could be spiraling out of control towards a second Great Depression that would make the first one look like a cake walk. It’s absolutely scary how close we came to a second Great Depression. Thankfully there’s some cooler heads at the top that prevented us from something that could have been catastrophic.
The Supreme Court delivered a firm and unambiguous rebuke to some of America’s most reckless judges on Thursday, ruling those judges were wrong to declare an entire federal agency unconstitutional in a decision that threatened to trigger a second Great Depression.
In a sensible world, no judge would have taken the plaintiffs arguments in CFPB v. Community Financial Services Association seriously. Briefly, they claimed that the Constitution limits Congress’s ability to enact “perpetual funding,” meaning that the legislation funding a particular federal program does not sunset after a certain period of time.
The implications of this entirely made-up theory of the Constitution are breathtaking. As Justice Elena Kagan points out in a concurring opinion in the CFPB case, “spending that does not require periodic appropriations (whether annual or longer) accounted for nearly two-thirds of the federal budget” — and that includes popular programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Nevertheless, a panel of three Trump judges on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit — a court dominated by reactionaries who often hand down decisions that offend even the current, very conservative Supreme Court — bought the CFPB plaintiffs’ novel theory and used it to declare the entire Consumer Financial Protection Bureau unconstitutional.
https://www.vox.com/scotus/24158216/supreme-court-cfpb-clarence-thomas-community-financial
In a sensible world, no judge would have taken the plaintiffs arguments in CFPB v. Community Financial Services Association seriously. Briefly, they claimed that the Constitution limits Congress’s ability to enact “perpetual funding,” meaning that the legislation funding a particular federal program does not sunset after a certain period of time.
The implications of this entirely made-up theory of the Constitution are breathtaking. As Justice Elena Kagan points out in a concurring opinion in the CFPB case, “spending that does not require periodic appropriations (whether annual or longer) accounted for nearly two-thirds of the federal budget” — and that includes popular programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Nevertheless, a panel of three Trump judges on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit — a court dominated by reactionaries who often hand down decisions that offend even the current, very conservative Supreme Court — bought the CFPB plaintiffs’ novel theory and used it to declare the entire Consumer Financial Protection Bureau unconstitutional.
https://www.vox.com/scotus/24158216/supreme-court-cfpb-clarence-thomas-community-financial
You know how there’s so many government agencies out there, that when something like this makes the news you go “I had no idea that agency existed!”. Well, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is a government agency that acts as a barrier between banks and the consumer to make sure that banks are operated fairly. The Consumer Financial Services Association is an organization that provides credit to banks. So yes, it gets confusing! But the SCOTUS’ overwhelming decision isn’t the end of this fight, in fact it’s just getting started.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau appears on the verge of historic levels of public and private enforcement activity after surviving its latest existential threat at the US Supreme Court. Its director, Rohit Chopra, said enforcement is now “firing on all cylinders.”
The Supreme Court’s decision will have immediate and significant impact on the consumer finance industry, especially as the CFPB already announced plans to expand its enforcement team by 200 staff members. The long-term effects of the Supreme Court’s ruling, however, aren’t yet clear.
In Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Community Financial Services Association of America, the Supreme Court held 7-2 that the CFPB’s funding structure complies with the Appropriations Clause of the US Constitution, reversing the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit’s contrary decision.
Justice Clarence Thomas, writing for the majority, concluded that the Appropriations Clause requires only that Congress identify in a funding law the specific source of funds, and a purpose for which the funds are to be used. The Supreme Court held that the Dodd-Frank Act satisfied both requirements as to the CFPB’s funding structure.
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bankruptcy-law/cfpb-goes-on-offense-faces-new-challenges-after-high-court-win
The Supreme Court’s decision will have immediate and significant impact on the consumer finance industry, especially as the CFPB already announced plans to expand its enforcement team by 200 staff members. The long-term effects of the Supreme Court’s ruling, however, aren’t yet clear.
In Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Community Financial Services Association of America, the Supreme Court held 7-2 that the CFPB’s funding structure complies with the Appropriations Clause of the US Constitution, reversing the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit’s contrary decision.
Justice Clarence Thomas, writing for the majority, concluded that the Appropriations Clause requires only that Congress identify in a funding law the specific source of funds, and a purpose for which the funds are to be used. The Supreme Court held that the Dodd-Frank Act satisfied both requirements as to the CFPB’s funding structure.
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bankruptcy-law/cfpb-goes-on-offense-faces-new-challenges-after-high-court-win
So how did it get to this point? And the other question - could the United States theoretically slide into Great Depression 2.0 and will it be worse than the first? Some might argue that we’re already there, with Wall St. being drunk with power and out of control, and siphoning our every last dollar while CEOs are enjoying unprecedented salaries. The other school of thought is that a second Great Depression is completely inevitable, no matter how much we try to stop it. But depending on how the 2024 election goes, the march towards a second Great Depression could be greatly accelerated!
Heads up, people and calling on all financial wizards to offer opinions.
'“Why would the Republicans...who generally represent the interests of corporations and the rich above all else, risk crashing the stock market and economy where those very same wealthy people have their money invested?”...This is a story as old as capitalism. During the Republican Great Depression of the 1930s...some of America’s greatest fortunes were made or massively expanded...Joe Kennedy, who’d made a pile of money manipulating the stock market, bailed out as the market began its slide and even shorted the market, increasing his wealth. But once it had crashed, when everybody was broke, he bought stock with a vengeance. “Cash is king” was the phrase of the day, and Kennedy was well stocked in cash (he even bought a movie studio). By the end of the Depression, he was one of the richest men in the nation.
When Wall Street banks...crashed the American economy in 2007, home prices...collapsed by 21%. Over 10 million Americans lost their homes to banking predators like “Foreclosure King” Steve Mnuchin, and tens of millions of others were underwater..(On) March 16, 2020 — just after Trump declared a pandemic and lockdown — the Dow sustained the largest single-day crash in its entire history. For the investor class, Trump and his billionaire buddies, this was an even better opportunity than the Bush crash of 2007! during that one single terrible pandemic year of 2020...the world's 2,365 billionaires saw their wealth increase by a full 54%...Billionaire’s taxes have fallen by a full 79 percent since Reagan’s election in 1980, and a 2012 analysis found that as much as $32 trillion was safely squirreled away in tax-fraud offshore shelters...This is why Kevin McCarthy’s proposed legislation to raise the debt ceiling would strip $80 billion from the IRS: the morbidly rich tax cheats who own him (with the Supreme Court’s blessing in Citizens United) don’t want to get caught.'
But the average American can be forgiven for thinking that Republicans would be reluctant to crash the economy. Their lived experience is very different from that of Elon Musk (532% increase in wealth during the single year of 2020), Mark Zuckerberg (86% increase), or Jeff Bezos (65% increase).
https://hartmannreport.com/p/why-the-gop-may-actually-want-a-second?utm_source=substack&utm_medium
'“Why would the Republicans...who generally represent the interests of corporations and the rich above all else, risk crashing the stock market and economy where those very same wealthy people have their money invested?”...This is a story as old as capitalism. During the Republican Great Depression of the 1930s...some of America’s greatest fortunes were made or massively expanded...Joe Kennedy, who’d made a pile of money manipulating the stock market, bailed out as the market began its slide and even shorted the market, increasing his wealth. But once it had crashed, when everybody was broke, he bought stock with a vengeance. “Cash is king” was the phrase of the day, and Kennedy was well stocked in cash (he even bought a movie studio). By the end of the Depression, he was one of the richest men in the nation.
When Wall Street banks...crashed the American economy in 2007, home prices...collapsed by 21%. Over 10 million Americans lost their homes to banking predators like “Foreclosure King” Steve Mnuchin, and tens of millions of others were underwater..(On) March 16, 2020 — just after Trump declared a pandemic and lockdown — the Dow sustained the largest single-day crash in its entire history. For the investor class, Trump and his billionaire buddies, this was an even better opportunity than the Bush crash of 2007! during that one single terrible pandemic year of 2020...the world's 2,365 billionaires saw their wealth increase by a full 54%...Billionaire’s taxes have fallen by a full 79 percent since Reagan’s election in 1980, and a 2012 analysis found that as much as $32 trillion was safely squirreled away in tax-fraud offshore shelters...This is why Kevin McCarthy’s proposed legislation to raise the debt ceiling would strip $80 billion from the IRS: the morbidly rich tax cheats who own him (with the Supreme Court’s blessing in Citizens United) don’t want to get caught.'
But the average American can be forgiven for thinking that Republicans would be reluctant to crash the economy. Their lived experience is very different from that of Elon Musk (532% increase in wealth during the single year of 2020), Mark Zuckerberg (86% increase), or Jeff Bezos (65% increase).
https://hartmannreport.com/p/why-the-gop-may-actually-want-a-second?utm_source=substack&utm_medium
That kind of seems where it’s heading, doesn’t it? Corporate greed at this point, in 2024, after 50 years of incessant and rampant bullying coming from the right wing, is absolutely unprecedented. CEOs and the shareholder class are enjoying immense wealth that they’ll never be able to fully spend or comprehend in their lifetimes, while the rest of us… get peanuts. The implications from CFPB vs Community Financial Services could have made Citizens United look like a pink slip by comparison. We dodged a huge bullet for now. Next time – and there will be a next time, my friends – we might not be so lucky.
In early October, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case that could determine the fate of the decade-old Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and possibly other federal agencies — including possibly the Federal Reserve System — not funded through annual appropriations by Congress. Created in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis as part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, the bureau, or CFPB, was the brainchild of U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, then a professor at Harvard Law School. Despite its work to protect individuals and families from unfair practices from banks and other financial institutions — including more than $14 billion in consumer relief over the years — the CFPB has been subject since its inception to intense scrutiny and legal challenges, including a 2020 ruling by the Supreme Court that its leadership structure was unconstitutional.
https://hls.harvard.edu/today/supreme-court-preview-consumer-financial-protection-bureau-v-community-financial-services-association-of-america/
https://hls.harvard.edu/today/supreme-court-preview-consumer-financial-protection-bureau-v-community-financial-services-association-of-america/
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[font size="8"]Samuel Alito
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The Supreme Court. They’re the definitive rule of law of the land. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the United States Constitution, and how the American government is supposed to work, they’re the third branch of government. And up until Trump installed Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Comey Barrett after the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, because MAGA and Fox News were on a massive power trip, were one of America’s most respected institutions. But that is no more! While most Americans who aren’t brainwashed under the spell of Rupert Murdoch and the Heritage Foundation are paying attention to how obscenely corrupt Clarence Thomas and his wife Virginia Thomas are, there's another justice who is as corrupt as the next and is getting away with it. That justice is Samuel Alito, who was selected and appointed by Mitch McConnell and the Bush administration. Well during all the chaos of the year 2020, that spilled over into the year 2021, one story that could have had massive implications, slipped underneath the cracks. And the New York Times uncovered it. With SCOTUS moving back the goalposts on whether or not former president Orange Turd will have “presidential immunity”, whatever that is, there are now two judges who should do the right thing and recuse themselves, but they probably won’t.
The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday and others urged Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to recuse himself from considering cases related to the 2020 election — including the question of former President Donald Trump’s immunity from criminal prosecution — because of controversy over an upside-down U.S. flag that flew outside Alito’s home more than a week after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitiol.
Judiciary chair Dick Durbin, D-Ill., suggested that the conservative Alito was adding to ethical concerns about the court after The New York Times report on Thursday detailing a photo of the flag displayed in that manner outside the justice’s Virginia home on Jan. 17, 2021, three days before President Joe Biden, a Democrat, was due to be sworn into office.
Alito told the Times his wife, Martha-Ann Alito, hung the flag upside-down after a confrontation with a neighbor after the election, which Trump has falsely claimed to have won.
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/17/supreme-court-alito-trump-stop-the-steal-flag.html
Judiciary chair Dick Durbin, D-Ill., suggested that the conservative Alito was adding to ethical concerns about the court after The New York Times report on Thursday detailing a photo of the flag displayed in that manner outside the justice’s Virginia home on Jan. 17, 2021, three days before President Joe Biden, a Democrat, was due to be sworn into office.
Alito told the Times his wife, Martha-Ann Alito, hung the flag upside-down after a confrontation with a neighbor after the election, which Trump has falsely claimed to have won.
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/17/supreme-court-alito-trump-stop-the-steal-flag.html
Yeah BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! So it was this kind of shit that led to the Jan. 6th Insurrection. And for a sitting SCOTUS justice to buy into this bullshit nonsense is truly, disgustingly beyond the pale. But come on, calling for reform at this point, with MAGA being as batshit crazy, reckless, out of control, and drunk with power as they are, simply isn’t going to cut it. If you really want to punish MAGA, put a gag on their favorite news network of choice – Fox. They simply can’t help themselves going on Sean Hannity every night to complain about how liberals are big meanie heads for *checks notes* doing the right thing and not what a news network wants.
Legal experts are lamenting the lack of an enforceable judicial ethics code, with some calling for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's recusal, following a New York Times report that a symbol of the “Stop the Steal” movement to reject the 2020 election was flown outside Alito’s home in the wake of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Ten leading legal experts told Salon Friday that the conduct — the flying of an upside-down flag, a known symbol of the movement to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, at a justice's home — appears to violate the Supreme Court's own ethics code, adopted last last year, by creating an appearance of bias.
Those experts said it’s far past time for the nine justices who enjoy lifetime appointments to hold themselves to the highest ethical standards. But, they noted, the Supreme Court has shown itself reluctant to do so.
"The situation is out of control," Richard Painter, a former White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush who worked with Justice Alito on his 2006 Senate confirmation, told Salon. "This is after the insurrection, so it's really him weighing in, getting involved publicly in a dispute over the insurrection."
https://www.salon.com/2024/05/17/out-of-control-legal-experts-say-justice-alitos-stop-the-steal-symbol-is-a-huge-red-flag/
Ten leading legal experts told Salon Friday that the conduct — the flying of an upside-down flag, a known symbol of the movement to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, at a justice's home — appears to violate the Supreme Court's own ethics code, adopted last last year, by creating an appearance of bias.
Those experts said it’s far past time for the nine justices who enjoy lifetime appointments to hold themselves to the highest ethical standards. But, they noted, the Supreme Court has shown itself reluctant to do so.
"The situation is out of control," Richard Painter, a former White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush who worked with Justice Alito on his 2006 Senate confirmation, told Salon. "This is after the insurrection, so it's really him weighing in, getting involved publicly in a dispute over the insurrection."
https://www.salon.com/2024/05/17/out-of-control-legal-experts-say-justice-alitos-stop-the-steal-symbol-is-a-huge-red-flag/
You know… so much of this could be solved if we told Fox News and the Heritage Foundation where they can stick it. So many of our current problems can be traced back to those two insidious organizations. It’s no mistake that at least two of the six right wing justices that currently sit on the court are HEAVILY compromised. But who knows how far the corruption goes? Are all six right wing justices under the spell of the unholy trinity infecting the GOP at an alarming rate – Fox News, the Heritage Foundation, and the Federalist Society. These three organizations are doing more damage to the United States than Al Qaeda or the Taliban could ever dream of! So Samuel Alito falling under the spell of Stop The Steal isn’t surprising, but it is incredibly disappointing.
An upside-down American flag – a symbol used by some supporters of former President Donald Trump who challenged the legitimacy of Joe Biden’s 2020 victory – hung outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito after the election, The New York Times reported Thursday.
The revelation is almost certain to prompt calls for Alito, a member of the court’s conservative wing, to recuse himself from several high-profile cases pending before the court this year involving the election and subsequent attack on the US Capitol, including the blockbuster question of whether Trump may claim immunity from federal election subversion charges.
The Times published a photo of the inverted flag, which it said was seen at the justice’s home in Alexandria, Virginia, on January 17, 2021.
A spokeswoman for the Supreme Court did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNN, which has not independently verified the flag’s use.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/16/politics/alito-upside-down-american-flag-house/index.html
The revelation is almost certain to prompt calls for Alito, a member of the court’s conservative wing, to recuse himself from several high-profile cases pending before the court this year involving the election and subsequent attack on the US Capitol, including the blockbuster question of whether Trump may claim immunity from federal election subversion charges.
The Times published a photo of the inverted flag, which it said was seen at the justice’s home in Alexandria, Virginia, on January 17, 2021.
A spokeswoman for the Supreme Court did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNN, which has not independently verified the flag’s use.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/16/politics/alito-upside-down-american-flag-house/index.html
So two questions remain – the first – should Justice Alito be booted from the bench? And the second – at the very least – should he at least recuse himself from the forthcoming Trump V America trial that could hand the guy who we used to call president immunity? We personally say yes to both scenarios and it could be disastrous whichever way he votes. It’s saddening and sickening, but certainly not surprising, that a hard right winger like Alito could fall under the spell of extremist social media propaganda. Well, either way, Alito opened up a whole can of worms that should never have been opened in the first place.
Senate Democrats are waging a public battle with Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and are questioning his impartiality after it was revealed that an upside-down American flag flew outside his home in the days surrounding Jan. 6, 2021, and President Biden’s inauguration.
Alito, one of the Supreme Court’s leading conservatives, is facing mounting criticism over the flag as the justices are set to rule on a pair of key decisions in the coming weeks related to the Jan. 6 attack.
The longtime justice said last week that he had nothing to do with the upside-down flag, a sign of distress that has been widely used by the “stop the steal” movement that argues former President Trump did not lose the 2020 election. The justice said his wife hung it amid a spat with neighbors, but Democrats were dissuaded, infuriated by the episode amid an ongoing battle over ethics at the court.
“Terribly, terribly alarming,” said Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). “To fly the flag upside down means a very specific thing. … It is not enough to just say, ‘My wife got mad.’ Consider me as alarmed as I possibly could be.”
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4675876-justice-alito-infuriates-democrats-with-upside-down-flag-alarming-appalling/
Alito, one of the Supreme Court’s leading conservatives, is facing mounting criticism over the flag as the justices are set to rule on a pair of key decisions in the coming weeks related to the Jan. 6 attack.
The longtime justice said last week that he had nothing to do with the upside-down flag, a sign of distress that has been widely used by the “stop the steal” movement that argues former President Trump did not lose the 2020 election. The justice said his wife hung it amid a spat with neighbors, but Democrats were dissuaded, infuriated by the episode amid an ongoing battle over ethics at the court.
“Terribly, terribly alarming,” said Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). “To fly the flag upside down means a very specific thing. … It is not enough to just say, ‘My wife got mad.’ Consider me as alarmed as I possibly could be.”
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4675876-justice-alito-infuriates-democrats-with-upside-down-flag-alarming-appalling/
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[font size="8"]Late Stage Capitalism
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Top 10 Conservative Idiots Presents:
“Greed, for lack of a better word, is good.” – Gordon Gekko, Wall St. (1987)
When corporate profits are at an all time high, there is nowhere else to go but to make more millions.
There is corporate greed, and then there is:
Welcome back to our segment on the relentless pursuit of never-ending corporate greed, Late Stage Capitalism! Sure, it’s not enough to make $50 billion, you need $150 billion! You need to be able to tank entire countries while you jet off in your penis-shaped rocket to the vast emptiness of deep space! This week, thanks to market deregulation and corporate profits are at an all time high, one of the most volatile markets out there is concert tickets. The concert ticket industry is thriving. One corporation is getting endless amounts of shit for it being a monopoly in the industry – and they rightfully deserve it, and that is Ticketmaster. But we’ll save that for another topic. But thanks to American deregulation practices, fans of one artist in particular are discovering that it’s cheaper to go see her in Europe than it is go see her in Los Angeles or New York. That artist of course, is Taylor Swift. So why is it less expensive to go see Taylor Swift in, say, Madrid or London than it is to go see her in the US? Well there’s a number of reasons.
Taylor Swift's U.S. fans reeling from sticker shock while looking for "Eras Tour" tickets could pay a lot less to see her in Europe, even after including air fare and a hotel.
According to an itinerary calculated by CNN, traveling to Sweden from New York to see Swift would cost about $1,300. That includes $300 for a concert ticket, $700 for a roundtrip flight, and $300 for a night at a four-star hotel.
Of course, an American tourist is unlikely to stay in Sweden for just one night then fly back to the U.S. the next day. And the cost of food, drinks and souvenirs would also add to the tab.
But that compares to ticket prices of $2,000-$8,500 for Swift’s upcoming shows in Miami, New Orleans and Indianapolis, according to prices on StubHub cited by CNN.
https://www.aol.com/taylor-swift-eras-tour-cheaper-191052461.html
According to an itinerary calculated by CNN, traveling to Sweden from New York to see Swift would cost about $1,300. That includes $300 for a concert ticket, $700 for a roundtrip flight, and $300 for a night at a four-star hotel.
Of course, an American tourist is unlikely to stay in Sweden for just one night then fly back to the U.S. the next day. And the cost of food, drinks and souvenirs would also add to the tab.
But that compares to ticket prices of $2,000-$8,500 for Swift’s upcoming shows in Miami, New Orleans and Indianapolis, according to prices on StubHub cited by CNN.
https://www.aol.com/taylor-swift-eras-tour-cheaper-191052461.html
That is a good question, and even we don’t know! So let’s think about this – thanks to American deregulation, it would cost $4,000 to see Taylor Swift in Miami or New York, but seeing her in Europe – with hotel, is about half the cost. And you know what? This is a good thing, because fans are starting to realize how far they can stretch a dollar. They’re also finding out how predatory American corporations can actually be. So you could spend $4,000 here to see a show, or you could spend $4,000 to see a show and get a trip to Europe out of it. In fact, the Swifties have a nickname for it – they’re calling it the Swift Lift.
The pop star is scheduled to kick off the 18-city Europe leg of her record-setting Eras Tour in Paris on Thursday, and planeloads of Swifties plan to follow Miss Americana across the pond in the coming weeks. The arena where Swift is appearing said Americans bought 20% of the tickets for her four sold-out shows. Stockholm, the tour's next stop, expects about 10,000 concertgoers from the U.S.
A concert might sound like an odd raison d’etre for visiting a foreign country, especially when fans can watch the Eras Tour from home via the documentary now streaming on Disney+. Yet online travel company Expedia says continent-hopping by Swift’s devotees is part of a larger trend it dubbed “tour tourism” while observing a pattern that emerged during Beyoncé's Renaissance world tour.
Some North American fans who plan to fly overseas for the Eras Tour said they justified the expense after noticing that tighter restrictions on ticket fees and resales in Europe made seeing Swift perform abroad no more costly — and potentially cheaper — than catching her closer to home.
“They said, ’Wait a minute, I can either spend $1,500 to go see my favorite artist in Miami, or I can take that $1,500 and buy a concert ticket, a round-trip plane ticket, and three nights in a hotel room,” Melanie Fish, an Expedia spokesperson and travel expert, said.
https://www.france24.com/en/culture/20240508-swift-lift-taylor-swift-fans-head-to-europe-for-cheaper-eras-tour-tickets
A concert might sound like an odd raison d’etre for visiting a foreign country, especially when fans can watch the Eras Tour from home via the documentary now streaming on Disney+. Yet online travel company Expedia says continent-hopping by Swift’s devotees is part of a larger trend it dubbed “tour tourism” while observing a pattern that emerged during Beyoncé's Renaissance world tour.
Some North American fans who plan to fly overseas for the Eras Tour said they justified the expense after noticing that tighter restrictions on ticket fees and resales in Europe made seeing Swift perform abroad no more costly — and potentially cheaper — than catching her closer to home.
“They said, ’Wait a minute, I can either spend $1,500 to go see my favorite artist in Miami, or I can take that $1,500 and buy a concert ticket, a round-trip plane ticket, and three nights in a hotel room,” Melanie Fish, an Expedia spokesperson and travel expert, said.
https://www.france24.com/en/culture/20240508-swift-lift-taylor-swift-fans-head-to-europe-for-cheaper-eras-tour-tickets
Yeah say whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? Yes, everyone has heard about how incredible and amazing the Eras Tour production is, and that it has basically eclipsed every other concert you’ve ever seen. So for the die-hard Swifties out there, why wouldn’t you do whatever it takes to see your idol live? Well if you look at ticket sales, let’s take a look at Paris, for instance. In Paris, where the 40,000 seat Defence Arena was completely sold out beyond capacity, nearly 9,000 of the 40,000 in attendance were from the United States. That’s an absolutely shocking 23% of the venue’s stated capacity. And one thing’s for certain – in France, the resale market isn’t going to be charging a 10,000% markup.
American fans of Taylor Swift have been taking advantage of cheaper ticket prices for the European leg of her record-breaking Eras tour.
The Times of London reports that, in the 40,000-capacity Defense Arena in Paris where Swift recently performed, up to 9,000 of the seats were filled by American fans, for whom the overseas trip was a bargain compared with ticket prices back home, even when the cost of transport and local accommodation was factored in.
The paper reports that ticket prices to see Swift in concert were around half the price charged in the US, while hotels are also cheaper than to be found in most US cities. And while American fans could be charged up to $10,000 for the best seats on resale sites, French legislation bans the resale of tickets for cultural or sporting events, meaning prices stay low.
Swift's Paris concerts saw her debut some brand new songs from her latest album The Tortured Poets Department. She performed My Boy Only Breaks His Favourite Toys, and also a mash-up of two songs from her 1989 album, Is It Over Now? and Out of the Woods.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/taylor-swift-us-fans-flock-to-europe-to-bag-cheaper-eras-concert-tickets/ar-BB1mCluQ
The Times of London reports that, in the 40,000-capacity Defense Arena in Paris where Swift recently performed, up to 9,000 of the seats were filled by American fans, for whom the overseas trip was a bargain compared with ticket prices back home, even when the cost of transport and local accommodation was factored in.
The paper reports that ticket prices to see Swift in concert were around half the price charged in the US, while hotels are also cheaper than to be found in most US cities. And while American fans could be charged up to $10,000 for the best seats on resale sites, French legislation bans the resale of tickets for cultural or sporting events, meaning prices stay low.
Swift's Paris concerts saw her debut some brand new songs from her latest album The Tortured Poets Department. She performed My Boy Only Breaks His Favourite Toys, and also a mash-up of two songs from her 1989 album, Is It Over Now? and Out of the Woods.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/taylor-swift-us-fans-flock-to-europe-to-bag-cheaper-eras-concert-tickets/ar-BB1mCluQ
So you might be wondering – why is it so much cheaper to go see Taylor Swift in Europe than it is in the United States? Well there’s many reasons for that. One is that hotels are much more regulated in Europe than they are here, which means that they can’t charge obscene amounts of money during high in demand nights. The other is that there’s lots of means of alternate transportation, which means that you can get to the stadium and not have a car. The most important one of all, though, is that the third party market is non-existent in Europe. And some countries, like France and Portugal, actually flat out ban the resale of event tickets. Perhaps America could learn a thing or two from this, but considering who’s in charge of the House right now, they probably won’t.
In Europe, however — where Swift starts a 51-show run on May 9 with a kickoff date at Paris’ La Defense Arena — tickets cost only a fraction of that. Right now, the get-in-the door price to see the opening of the European leg of the Eras Tour is $340 a ticket — 87% cheaper than the average price in the United States.
That means a fan in Miami could fly to Paris for about $900 a person (according to prices generated on kayak.com), spend two nights at a four-star hotel at $250 a night and purchase a $340 concert ticket for a grand total of $1,740 — which is still $760 less than the cheapest tickets currently available for her Miami shows.
Tickets to see Swift in Stockholm (May 17-19) are even cheaper, at $312 for the cheapest tickets, while tickets for her show in Portugal (May 24-25) start at $336 and in Spain (May 29-30) start at $324. Prices do start to climb in the United Kingdom, with the get-in-the-door price hovering around £540 (about $674 USD) for Swift’s Liverpool shows (June 13-15). Prices to see Swift at Wembley Stadium (June 21-23) hover around £720 ($900).
https://www.billboard.com/business/touring/taylor-swift-eras-tour-tickets-cheaper-europe-1235671760/
That means a fan in Miami could fly to Paris for about $900 a person (according to prices generated on kayak.com), spend two nights at a four-star hotel at $250 a night and purchase a $340 concert ticket for a grand total of $1,740 — which is still $760 less than the cheapest tickets currently available for her Miami shows.
Tickets to see Swift in Stockholm (May 17-19) are even cheaper, at $312 for the cheapest tickets, while tickets for her show in Portugal (May 24-25) start at $336 and in Spain (May 29-30) start at $324. Prices do start to climb in the United Kingdom, with the get-in-the-door price hovering around £540 (about $674 USD) for Swift’s Liverpool shows (June 13-15). Prices to see Swift at Wembley Stadium (June 21-23) hover around £720 ($900).
https://www.billboard.com/business/touring/taylor-swift-eras-tour-tickets-cheaper-europe-1235671760/
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[font size="8"]Holy Shit
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Gather around my fair brothers and sisters! It’s time to take a seat in the pew and pass the collection plate, for the Holy Church Of The Top 10 has convened and it’s time to remind you that the holiest among us are the most full of:
My fair congregation! Please be seated! It’s graduation season, and I am sure that you or someone you know happens to be graduating. And if you don’t know who is speaking at your commencement, you probably should at least look into it. Why is that? Because there’s one little known college in Atchinson, Kansas is getting a lot of undeserved attention for their commencement address. Benedictine College got way more than they bargained for when they signed up Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker to deliver the commencement. He gave a hate-filled speech that included every extreme right wing talking point that you’ve ever heard. Including some old school fire and brimstone religious talking points about women. Yeah he absolutely went there, and he is getting some absolutely well deserved shit for it.
Harrison Butker is the latest Kansas City Chiefs player to become a household name — and this time it's for controversial reasons.
The 28-year-old NFL star sparked headlines after giving a firebrand commencement speech May 11 at Benedictine College, a small Catholic liberal college in Kansas. During his speech, the athlete, who is Catholic himself, spoke out against birth control and IVF while also encouraging young women in the audience to be homemakers, among other topics.
Butker asserted during his speech that his wife Isabelle Butker’s life “really started when she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.”
Butker's speech left some graduates at the school outraged and sparked an online backlash.
His comments and drew criticism from a group of nuns associated with Benedictine College, who celebrated the college's "educated" women in a statement.
https://www.today.com/news/harrison-butker-speech-backlash-rcna153080
The 28-year-old NFL star sparked headlines after giving a firebrand commencement speech May 11 at Benedictine College, a small Catholic liberal college in Kansas. During his speech, the athlete, who is Catholic himself, spoke out against birth control and IVF while also encouraging young women in the audience to be homemakers, among other topics.
Butker asserted during his speech that his wife Isabelle Butker’s life “really started when she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.”
Butker's speech left some graduates at the school outraged and sparked an online backlash.
His comments and drew criticism from a group of nuns associated with Benedictine College, who celebrated the college's "educated" women in a statement.
https://www.today.com/news/harrison-butker-speech-backlash-rcna153080
Yeah BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! You know therein lies the problem is that a lot of people who believe this stuff believe it! And they do not worship GAWD or JAYSUS, oh no, my friends! They worship the unholy, ungodly Dark One! I of course speak of a man who is so profane, so disgusting that his name DARE NOT be spoken in my church! You just know that it was bad when the university itself had to go into overdrive doing some damage control. The comments, my fair congregation, were so extreme that the NFL had no choice but to respond! And yes, even they distanced themselves from his extremism!
The NFL has responded to Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker's controversial commencement speech at Benedictine College, where he urged women to be homemakers and railed against Pride Month. The league said in a statement to CBS News that it doesn't hold his views.
"Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity," said Jonathan Beane, the senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer at the NFL. "His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger."
The organization's response comes after backlash over the three-time Super Bowl champion's remarks. In a 20-minute address last weekend at the Catholic liberal arts school, he took aim at Pride Month, women in the workforce, President Biden and abortion.
Butker, who has made his conservative Catholic beliefs well known, began his address by attacking what he called "dangerous gender ideologies" in an apparent reference to Pride month, which has been celebrated in June since the Stonewall riots in 1969.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/harrison-butker-commencement-speech-nfl-kansas-city-chiefs-benedictine-college/
"Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity," said Jonathan Beane, the senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer at the NFL. "His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger."
The organization's response comes after backlash over the three-time Super Bowl champion's remarks. In a 20-minute address last weekend at the Catholic liberal arts school, he took aim at Pride Month, women in the workforce, President Biden and abortion.
Butker, who has made his conservative Catholic beliefs well known, began his address by attacking what he called "dangerous gender ideologies" in an apparent reference to Pride month, which has been celebrated in June since the Stonewall riots in 1969.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/harrison-butker-commencement-speech-nfl-kansas-city-chiefs-benedictine-college/
You know, Mr. Butker isn’t speaking for all Catholics, he’s just saying the quiet part out loud. I know, my fair congregation, we shouldn’t pass judgement! For does it not say that in our Good Book? Of course it does! But the backlash for what is going on is insane. And you can’t quite possibly be as anti-woman as Butker is. Even the nuns! The nuns of this school are speaking out against Mr. Butker’s disgusting comments about women. That is how you know it’s most certainly evil and fucked up, my fair congregation! I mean come on, did anyone ever see that movie Blues Brothers? That’s the kind of punishment he should be facing!
Harrison Butker is facing yet another statement condemning his controversial commencement address at Benedictine College last weekend. Only this one comes from a unique source.
In a statement shared via Facebook, the sisters of Mount St. Scholastica -- a "founding institution and sponsor of Benedictine College" -- said they found it "necessary" to respond to Butker's remarks.
"The sisters of Mount St. Scholastica do not believe that Harrison Butker’s comments in his 2024 Benedictine College commencement address represent the Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts college that our founders envisioned and in which we have been so invested," the nuns wrote. "Instead of promoting unity in our church, our nation, and the world, his comments seem to have fostered division. One of our concerns was the assertion that being a homemaker is the highest calling for a woman. We sisters have dedicated our lives to God and God’s people, including the many women whom we have taught and influenced during the past 160 years. These women have made a tremendous difference in the world in their roles as wives and mothers and through their God-given gifts in leadership, scholarship, and their careers."
https://www.etonline.com/harrison-butker-criticized-by-benedictine-college-nuns-for-controversial-commencement-speech-225734
In a statement shared via Facebook, the sisters of Mount St. Scholastica -- a "founding institution and sponsor of Benedictine College" -- said they found it "necessary" to respond to Butker's remarks.
"The sisters of Mount St. Scholastica do not believe that Harrison Butker’s comments in his 2024 Benedictine College commencement address represent the Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts college that our founders envisioned and in which we have been so invested," the nuns wrote. "Instead of promoting unity in our church, our nation, and the world, his comments seem to have fostered division. One of our concerns was the assertion that being a homemaker is the highest calling for a woman. We sisters have dedicated our lives to God and God’s people, including the many women whom we have taught and influenced during the past 160 years. These women have made a tremendous difference in the world in their roles as wives and mothers and through their God-given gifts in leadership, scholarship, and their careers."
https://www.etonline.com/harrison-butker-criticized-by-benedictine-college-nuns-for-controversial-commencement-speech-225734
And by the way, Bill Maher, I see you with your “he did nothing wrong” bullshit! Don’t think we’re not letting you get away with that one! It’s absolutely no secret that the MAGA Taliban, and our brothers and sisters on the right, want to drag women’s rights back to the stone ages. So who should you listen to on women’s rights? Rather than listen to Butker drag women’s rights back to the stone ages, you could listen to another Chief – Travis Kelce’s sister in law give this speech on women’s rights. But we do like that women are meme-bombing Butker’s Facebook page with things that women should be doing, and it’s hilarious!
On May 11th, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker gave a commencement address to graduates from Benedictine College. During his speech to the private Catholic liberal arts college in Kansas, he suggested Pride Month was a "deadly sin," condemned abortion rights, and informed women that they had "the most diabolical lies" told to them (after he quoted a Taylor Swift song earlier in his speech, of course).
He went on to speak about his wife, Isabelle, claiming she would be the first to say that "her life truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother" and that he was able to be the man who he is because his wife embraced one of the most important titles of all: being a homemaker.
After Harrison gave his speech, it not only garnered a direct response from the NFL stating that Harrison's views were not those of the NFL as an organization but also widespread backlash from people across the country. But while a lot of people have vocalized their disgust about the commencement address on their own personal social media accounts, women have begun to leave sarcastic comments about their "abilities as a woman" directly on the Kansas City Chiefs's Instagram account — and they're brutal in the best way possible.
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/hope-see-tv-kitchen-women-031602861.html
He went on to speak about his wife, Isabelle, claiming she would be the first to say that "her life truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother" and that he was able to be the man who he is because his wife embraced one of the most important titles of all: being a homemaker.
After Harrison gave his speech, it not only garnered a direct response from the NFL stating that Harrison's views were not those of the NFL as an organization but also widespread backlash from people across the country. But while a lot of people have vocalized their disgust about the commencement address on their own personal social media accounts, women have begun to leave sarcastic comments about their "abilities as a woman" directly on the Kansas City Chiefs's Instagram account — and they're brutal in the best way possible.
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/hope-see-tv-kitchen-women-031602861.html
Well, Harrison Butker is yet another brainwashed Murdoch bot. He’ll have a cushy job at Fox News when he retires. Another reason why we can’t have nice things! Mass has ended, may you go in peace! That’s it this week for:
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[font size="8"]People Who Somehow Got Elected: Anna Paulina Luna
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Politicians at the state, local and national levels that are so toxic, you wonder how they got elected, or in some cases reelected. This is:
This week – we add FL-13 district representative Anna Paulina Luna (Q – Batshit). Luna is yet another part time Congress person and full time Fox News noisemaker and professional Trump ass kisser, and there’s a lot of people on the right who are fighting for that space. In case you are wondering, Rep. Luna’s MAGA got elected by appealing to the MAGA wing of the GOP and appearing on talk show after talk show after talk show. Yes, Rep. Luna is the kind of MAGA, like Marjorie Greene, who does not know when to shut the fuck up. In fact, we are probably sure that Rep. Luna doesn’t work for the American people at all. She instead works for the interests of Donald Trump, the MAGA / Putin wing of the GOP, and Fox News. And to prove it, she’s attempting to convince people that Former President Orange Turd is worthy of the Congressional Gold Medal. Which, he shouldn’t be awarded anything. At least that’s what we would say.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna is leading a handful of GOP colleagues in a push to award a Congressional Gold Medal to former President Donald Trump.
Luna (R-Fla.), joined by seven other Republicans — GOP Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.), and Reps. Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Andy Ogles (Tenn.), Randy Weber (Texas), Bob Good (Va.), Mary Miller (Ill.) and Mike Waltz (Fla.) — offered the resolution Tuesday. It comes as Trump sits in New York amid an ongoing criminal case concerning hush money payments to former adult actress Stormy Daniels.
Neither the offices of Speaker Mike Johnson nor Majority Leader Steve Scalise were immediately available for comment.
Among the clauses in the resolution are “the greatest of President Trump’s foreign policy achievements was that no wars were started while he was in office.”
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/05/14/congress/congressional-medal-for-trump-house-gop-00157932
Luna (R-Fla.), joined by seven other Republicans — GOP Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.), and Reps. Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Andy Ogles (Tenn.), Randy Weber (Texas), Bob Good (Va.), Mary Miller (Ill.) and Mike Waltz (Fla.) — offered the resolution Tuesday. It comes as Trump sits in New York amid an ongoing criminal case concerning hush money payments to former adult actress Stormy Daniels.
Neither the offices of Speaker Mike Johnson nor Majority Leader Steve Scalise were immediately available for comment.
Among the clauses in the resolution are “the greatest of President Trump’s foreign policy achievements was that no wars were started while he was in office.”
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/05/14/congress/congressional-medal-for-trump-house-gop-00157932
Wait, that’s his achievement? Is that no wars were started while he was in office? That’s not really an achievement, it just means that he didn’t do anything as a wartime president. But did she not forget the ever-ongoing War On Terror? Of course she didn’t. And of course, like we said, Rep. Luna is the kind of Fox brainwashed bot who never knows when to shut the fuck up or stop shooting her mouth off on things that she doesn’t know. She recently had a verbal fight on the House floor with Rep. Crockett in a House hearing on whether or not to hold Merrick Garland in contempt. It did not go well.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) got into a heated argument with Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) on Thursday night after Luna told her to “calm down.”
During a House Oversight Committee markup of a contempt of Congress citation against Attorney General Merrick Garland, for not releasing audio of President Joe Biden’s interview with special counsel Robert Hur, Crockett asked for clarification about what comments could be kept on the hearing record. At issue was Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) minutes earlier sparking a fracas when she insulted Crockett for her “fake eyelashes.”
Crockett then appeared to take a shot at Greene:
“I'm just curious, just to better understand your ruling: If someone on this committee then starts talking about somebody's bleached blonde, bad built, butch body, that would not be engaging in personalities, correct?” Crockett asked House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY).
Luna then asked Comer to strike Crockett’s words from the record.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/dont-tell-calm-down-jasmine-122522929.html
During a House Oversight Committee markup of a contempt of Congress citation against Attorney General Merrick Garland, for not releasing audio of President Joe Biden’s interview with special counsel Robert Hur, Crockett asked for clarification about what comments could be kept on the hearing record. At issue was Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) minutes earlier sparking a fracas when she insulted Crockett for her “fake eyelashes.”
Crockett then appeared to take a shot at Greene:
“I'm just curious, just to better understand your ruling: If someone on this committee then starts talking about somebody's bleached blonde, bad built, butch body, that would not be engaging in personalities, correct?” Crockett asked House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY).
Luna then asked Comer to strike Crockett’s words from the record.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/dont-tell-calm-down-jasmine-122522929.html
And yes, sadly, Rep. Luna appeals to the MAGA anti-vaxxer conspiracy theorist crowd. Last year, her husband quit the military because he refused to get the COVID-vaccine and now they’re suing the military for lost salary. That’s certifiably insane. Like most people on the MAGA side of things, Rep. Luna is also a big believer in the Charlie Sheen school of “winning”, despite being proven time and time again that’s not really a thing. Rep. Luna was also involved in the Marjorie Greene plot to unseat MAGA Mike Johnson as the House Speaker, and well, the GOP plans didn’t exactly come to fruition.
As House Speaker Mike Johnson continues to face criticism from conservatives over his support for Ukraine aid, Representative Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican, warned on Friday of a possible GOP plan that would allow a Democratic House speaker if a motion to vacate is introduced.
Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, is facing mounting criticism from House conservatives as he pushed forward on a bill to provide supplemental aid to Ukraine, which continues defending its easternmost territories against Russia who invaded the country two years ago. Conservatives have said those funds should instead be spent to secure the U.S.-Mexico border rather than on American allies.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, last month introduced a motion to vacate against Johnson, but it was unprivileged, meaning it did not automatically compel a vote. Greene has continued to warn Johnson against passing Ukraine aid, with Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, cosponsoring the motion this week.
In addition, following Saturday's passing of a $95 billion aid package that includes $60.8 billion of Ukraine aid, Greene continued to criticize Johnson in a post on X, formerly Twitter, writing "Mike Johnson's House of Representatives so proud to work for Ukraine. Not the American people!!! It's despicable!"
https://www.newsweek.com/anna-paulina-luna-reveals-plan-that-allows-democratic-house-speaker-1892512
Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, is facing mounting criticism from House conservatives as he pushed forward on a bill to provide supplemental aid to Ukraine, which continues defending its easternmost territories against Russia who invaded the country two years ago. Conservatives have said those funds should instead be spent to secure the U.S.-Mexico border rather than on American allies.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, last month introduced a motion to vacate against Johnson, but it was unprivileged, meaning it did not automatically compel a vote. Greene has continued to warn Johnson against passing Ukraine aid, with Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, cosponsoring the motion this week.
In addition, following Saturday's passing of a $95 billion aid package that includes $60.8 billion of Ukraine aid, Greene continued to criticize Johnson in a post on X, formerly Twitter, writing "Mike Johnson's House of Representatives so proud to work for Ukraine. Not the American people!!! It's despicable!"
https://www.newsweek.com/anna-paulina-luna-reveals-plan-that-allows-democratic-house-speaker-1892512
No, you know what’s despicable? There’s a mad man sitting in the Kremlin who wants to take over the world, is threatening to launch nukes at anyone who doesn’t agree with his evil plans, and people are acting like it’s no big deal because they’ve been heavily brainwashed by right wing propaganda. And no, we’re not at all joking when we say that Rep. Luna might be a Nazi. In fact, during the Congressional vote on whether or not to change the legal definition of anti-semitism, Rep. Luna was one of a few who were not on board with this law. Matt Gaetz, another Florida rep, was also not. Color us shocked.
On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to pass a bill that would change the definition of antisemitism in federal discrimination law.
Not every Florida lawmaker was on board.
Although the measure passed the House 320-91, Republicans Anna Paulina Luna, Matt Gaetz and Byron Donalds and Democrat Maxwell Frost voted against it. (Republican Mario Diaz-Balart did not vote on the bill.)
Gaetz and Luna said they voted against the so-called Antisemitism Awareness Act, because it would codify the definition of antisemitism used by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.
Included in that group’s examples of antisemitism is the claim that Jews killed Jesus Christ.
https://www.tampabay.com/news/2024/05/03/anna-paulina-luna-matt-gaetz-voted-against-campus-antisemitism-bill-heres-why/
Not every Florida lawmaker was on board.
Although the measure passed the House 320-91, Republicans Anna Paulina Luna, Matt Gaetz and Byron Donalds and Democrat Maxwell Frost voted against it. (Republican Mario Diaz-Balart did not vote on the bill.)
Gaetz and Luna said they voted against the so-called Antisemitism Awareness Act, because it would codify the definition of antisemitism used by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.
Included in that group’s examples of antisemitism is the claim that Jews killed Jesus Christ.
https://www.tampabay.com/news/2024/05/03/anna-paulina-luna-matt-gaetz-voted-against-campus-antisemitism-bill-heres-why/
That’s MAGA representative and professional Trump ass kisser Anna Paulina Luna, yet another toxic politician to add to the ever-growing list of:
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[font size="8"]Conspiracy Corner
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Welcome back to our segment that attempts to explain the unexplainable, Conspiracy Corner! Of course conspiracies exist when people simply don’t want to read the article past the headlines and just flat out make shit up. We of course are coming to you live from our underground doomsday shelter from deep within the New Mexico badlands. Undisclosed location, of course! Let me just adjust my trusty tin foil hat for maximum government interference. Ah, there we go! They are trying to read yours and my thoughts after all! So this week, it seems like the world is crashing down on MAGA conspiracy theorists left and right. Well, there are no left wing MAGA conspiracy theorists, and if they, well, they’re just kidding themselves at this point. But that’s neither here nor there! But perhaps the biggest loser this week is none other than the guy who’s formerly known as New York’s Mayor, and currently known as inmate #4058215, Rudy Giuliani. Yes, he got served papers at his 80th birthday party while being interviewed by fellow MAGA co-conspirator and soon to be convicted felon Steve Bannon. Hey, maybe they can share a cell together!
Rudy Giuliani was served Friday night with notice of his indictment related to efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Arizona after his 80th birthday party and after boasting on social media that he had avoided being served.
"The final defendant was served moments ago. @RudyGiuliani nobody is above the law," Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes posted on X, replying directly to a post from Giuliani earlier Friday night taunting Mayes with a photo from his 80th birthday party for failing to deliver his indictment.
Giuliani, in a since-deleted tweet, wrote, "If Arizona authorities can't find me by tomorrow morning: 1. They must dismiss the indictment; 2. They must concede they can't count votes."
Mayes shared a screenshot of the post even after it was deleted.
Giuliani was served with the indictment after his birthday party, which was hosted in Palm Beach, Florida, by GOP consultant Caroline Wren, had ended and as he was walking to a car, according to his spokesman Ted Goodman.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/rudy-giuliani-served-arizona-fake-electors-indictment-after/story?id=110365001
"The final defendant was served moments ago. @RudyGiuliani nobody is above the law," Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes posted on X, replying directly to a post from Giuliani earlier Friday night taunting Mayes with a photo from his 80th birthday party for failing to deliver his indictment.
Giuliani, in a since-deleted tweet, wrote, "If Arizona authorities can't find me by tomorrow morning: 1. They must dismiss the indictment; 2. They must concede they can't count votes."
Mayes shared a screenshot of the post even after it was deleted.
Giuliani was served with the indictment after his birthday party, which was hosted in Palm Beach, Florida, by GOP consultant Caroline Wren, had ended and as he was walking to a car, according to his spokesman Ted Goodman.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/rudy-giuliani-served-arizona-fake-electors-indictment-after/story?id=110365001
Now here’s where it gets interesting. Apparently prosecutors say they couldn’t find Giuliani to serve him with papers. Well, of course MAGA having some of the stupidest criminals known to man… oh come on, they destroyed Congress and then bragged about it on social media… yeah! Take that tone! But these are some really stupid criminals. When you’re on the run from the law, the last thing you want to do is to give your location away. MAGA as you know, cannot help but draw attention to themselves by being the loudest and dumbest in the room. So take this down – if you’re on the run from the law, maybe don’t give away your location by throwing a massive birthday celebration for yourself!
Arizona prosecutors have tried for weeks – and so far failed – to serve Rudy Giuliani with notice of his indictment related to an alleged scheme to overturn the 2020 election results in that state.
Giuliani is among a group of former President Donald Trump’s allies indicted last month in Arizona alongside the 11 individuals who acted as fake GOP electors from the state in the last presidential election. But the former New York City mayor and one-time attorney for Trump is the only defendant prosecutors have been unable to serve with a summons, according to Richie Taylor, a spokesperson for the Arizona attorney general’s office.
The summons is a formal notice that Giuliani has been criminally charged and must appear before a judge on May 21, and a team of prosecutors and investigators working for Arizona Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes has made multiple attempts to locate him, Taylor told CNN.
CNN has reached out to a spokesman for Giuliani for comment.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/14/politics/arizona-officials-giuliani-indictment-2020/index.html
Giuliani is among a group of former President Donald Trump’s allies indicted last month in Arizona alongside the 11 individuals who acted as fake GOP electors from the state in the last presidential election. But the former New York City mayor and one-time attorney for Trump is the only defendant prosecutors have been unable to serve with a summons, according to Richie Taylor, a spokesperson for the Arizona attorney general’s office.
The summons is a formal notice that Giuliani has been criminally charged and must appear before a judge on May 21, and a team of prosecutors and investigators working for Arizona Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes has made multiple attempts to locate him, Taylor told CNN.
CNN has reached out to a spokesman for Giuliani for comment.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/14/politics/arizona-officials-giuliani-indictment-2020/index.html
Yeah so here’s the thing for you wannabe MAGA criminals. The first is that if you’ve got nothing to hide, nobody’s going to come after you. And if they are coming after you, maybe don’t broadcast your 80th birthday bash on the internet! Giuliani isn’t the only fake elector being indicted in the Arizona voter fraud case – he happens to be the most famous of all of them. Insane to think those that are the ones who cry conspiracy and fake the most are the ones who are committing the most conspiracies and it’s absolutely ridiculous. But as the election interference probe widens, we’re going to find there was way more MAGA meddling than we could ever even begin to comprehend!
Rudy Giuliani, two former attorneys for former President Donald Trump and several of the alleged fake electors are expected to be arraigned in Phoenix Tuesday on state criminal charges for their effort to overturn the 2020 election results in Arizona.
Former Trump attorney John Eastman was the first ally of the former president to be arraigned in the case last week.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes last month announced charges against 11 named alleged fake electors and seven people whose names are redacted in the filing for their alleged role in efforts to subvert Joe Biden's 2020 victory in the state.
The charges include fraud, forgery and conspiracy.
Arizona is the third state to pursue election interference charges related to the 2020 election. In December, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford announced felony charges against six alleged "fake electors" in that state.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/rudy-giuliani-expected-arraigned-arizona-election-interference-probe/story?id=110436094
Former Trump attorney John Eastman was the first ally of the former president to be arraigned in the case last week.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes last month announced charges against 11 named alleged fake electors and seven people whose names are redacted in the filing for their alleged role in efforts to subvert Joe Biden's 2020 victory in the state.
The charges include fraud, forgery and conspiracy.
Arizona is the third state to pursue election interference charges related to the 2020 election. In December, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford announced felony charges against six alleged "fake electors" in that state.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/rudy-giuliani-expected-arraigned-arizona-election-interference-probe/story?id=110436094
Yeah probably! So now you might be wondering – how did the feds manage to track down the elusive Giuliani in the first place? Well he’s already running from his indictment in Georgia. So this is just another one to add to the growing pile. But as you know – the people who call themselves the “silent majority” never actually seem to stay silent. They’re usually the loudest and dumbest in the room. Guiliani being no exception. Not only is he a crook and a terrible person, he also can’t seem to stay off his biggest vice – social media. Let this be a lesson to all you wannabe criminals out there – if you’re on the run from the law, because you know you’re guilty – don’t broadcast your 80th birthday to the public! Guiliani may be America’s mayor, he’s also one of the stupidest criminals alive!
Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor who played a pivotal role in former President Donald Trump’s schemes to steal the 2020 election, was having a blast evading Arizona law enforcement last week.
According to two people who talked to him about it — including during his 80th birthday bash this past Friday — the former top Trump attorney was absolutely jubilant about his success in dodging being served his indictment in the Grand Canyon State’s sprawling election-subversion case. Right up until Friday, Giuliani had even been soliciting additional ideas from his pals on ways to keep mocking Arizona’s attorney general on social media and on video, the sources add.
Too bad for him that he couldn’t stop posting: As a result, Giuliani was served on Friday leaving his birthday party.
“Our agents traveled to Florida [on Friday]. We knew he was there because of his nightly live video streams at his residence,” Richie Taylor, communications director for the Arizona attorney general office, tells Rolling Stone. “The agents took the opportunity to serve him when he was out at a friend’s nearby house as he left his birthday party … He is expected to appear in court on Tuesday, May 21, unless he asks the court for a delay.”
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/giuliani-arizona-attorney-general-indictment-serve-post-stream-1235023936/
According to two people who talked to him about it — including during his 80th birthday bash this past Friday — the former top Trump attorney was absolutely jubilant about his success in dodging being served his indictment in the Grand Canyon State’s sprawling election-subversion case. Right up until Friday, Giuliani had even been soliciting additional ideas from his pals on ways to keep mocking Arizona’s attorney general on social media and on video, the sources add.
Too bad for him that he couldn’t stop posting: As a result, Giuliani was served on Friday leaving his birthday party.
“Our agents traveled to Florida [on Friday]. We knew he was there because of his nightly live video streams at his residence,” Richie Taylor, communications director for the Arizona attorney general office, tells Rolling Stone. “The agents took the opportunity to serve him when he was out at a friend’s nearby house as he left his birthday party … He is expected to appear in court on Tuesday, May 21, unless he asks the court for a delay.”
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/giuliani-arizona-attorney-general-indictment-serve-post-stream-1235023936/
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[font size="8"]I Need A Drink
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Hey everyone, I don’t know about you, but I could really use a drink!
So of course you know by now that the purpose of this segment is that we have some drinks, and while we are drinking, we discuss literally anything in the news as long as it doesn’t relate to politics. I don’t know about you, but there’s a lot of really dark shit in the news right now! We always feel that the best escape from reality is to belly up to the bar, crack open a cold one or two, and escape reality! And don’t worry, my sober brothers and sisters, we got you covered too! Just grab a glass of your favorite coffee, tea, or energy drink and come get wired with us! Well, this week, you know that we love a good beef around here, and two of rap’s biggest stars – LA’s Kendrick Lamar, and Toronto’s Drake, are engaged in one of the beefiest beefs we’ve ever seen! So tell me bartender, what goes well with a story about a rap beef? A bullion martini? What’s in that? No thanks! I’ll stick with my usual Jack Daniels mixed with Jack Daniels. I call it the Double Jack! Well, anyway, nobody in the rap game knows why this beef is taking place, but it’s one of the most bizarre beefs ever.
This May, spring flowers came with an unexpected surprise: intense beef between rappers J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and Drake that took the internet by storm. As a casual enjoyer of all three main players—the self-proclaimed “big three” of rap—I was taken aback by the sheer quantity of history I needed to absorb to even begin to understand the beef.
In November 2011, Lamar and Drake made their first collaboration on Drake’s Take Care album in the song “Buried Alive Interlude.” Just a year later, Drake was featured on “Poetic Justice,” from Lamar’s album good kid, m.A.A.d. city. In 2012, they collaborated once again on A$AP Rocky’s track “F**kin’ Problems” from LONG.LIVE.A$AP. Unfortunately, this is where the collaboration and kindness ended.
In August 2013, Lamar took aim at Drake and other rappers in a feature on Big Sean’s “Control” in the line “Jermaine Cole…A$AP Rocky, Drake, Big Sean,…Tyler, Mac Miller / I got love for you all, but I’m tryna murder you n****s.” Drake responded to the diss when talking to Billboard, saying, “I know good and well that he’s not murdering me, at all, in any platform. So when that day presents itself, I guess we can revisit the topic.”
More than ten years later, that day crept back up on Drake. In October 2023, J. Cole and Drake’s collaboration on “First Person Shooter ” was Cole’s first-ever Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit. On the track, Cole rapped, “Love when they argue the hardest emcee / Is it K. Dot? Is it Aubrey? Or me? / We the big three like we started a league.”
https://machronicle.com/rap-beef-for-dummies-the-beginners-guide-to-drake-and-kendrick/
In November 2011, Lamar and Drake made their first collaboration on Drake’s Take Care album in the song “Buried Alive Interlude.” Just a year later, Drake was featured on “Poetic Justice,” from Lamar’s album good kid, m.A.A.d. city. In 2012, they collaborated once again on A$AP Rocky’s track “F**kin’ Problems” from LONG.LIVE.A$AP. Unfortunately, this is where the collaboration and kindness ended.
In August 2013, Lamar took aim at Drake and other rappers in a feature on Big Sean’s “Control” in the line “Jermaine Cole…A$AP Rocky, Drake, Big Sean,…Tyler, Mac Miller / I got love for you all, but I’m tryna murder you n****s.” Drake responded to the diss when talking to Billboard, saying, “I know good and well that he’s not murdering me, at all, in any platform. So when that day presents itself, I guess we can revisit the topic.”
More than ten years later, that day crept back up on Drake. In October 2023, J. Cole and Drake’s collaboration on “First Person Shooter ” was Cole’s first-ever Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit. On the track, Cole rapped, “Love when they argue the hardest emcee / Is it K. Dot? Is it Aubrey? Or me? / We the big three like we started a league.”
https://machronicle.com/rap-beef-for-dummies-the-beginners-guide-to-drake-and-kendrick/
So for those of you who have been following, this isn’t a new beef. It’s been going on the last three years. But this beef recently resurfaced because both J. Cole and Drake have new albums out. And die hard fans of both rappers were very quick on social media to declare the other one the winner. That did not go over well. And not only that, it completely divided the hip-hop community. But of course, Kendrick didn’t help things when he appeared on the new Metro Boomin’ album and laid an absolute diss to Drake, and even took a shot at J. Cole, and that didn’t go over well. So who was the big winner and who was the big loser in this beef? Well it’s complicated.
Things weren’t always this tense between Kendrick Lamar and Drake. On March 25, the former shook the foundation with his uncredited verse on Metro Boomin and Future’s “Like That,” a cut included on the pair’s freshly released collaborative album “We Don’t Trust You.”
The internet immediately lit up: Lamar’s particularly fiery verse put his issues with other rappers in uncharacteristically plain terms, very clearly taking shots at Drake and J. Cole in response to their song “First Person Shooter,” included on last year’s “For All the Dogs.” On the track, Cole lumped Lamar with himself and Drake as the “big three”: “Love when they argue the hardest MC / Is it K. Dot? Is it Aubrey? Or me? / We the big three, like we started a league.”
In a tightly wound, entendre-replete, machine gun verse, Lamar fired back by refuting the designation and setting himself apart from his peers and former collaborators. “Yeah get up with me, fuck sneak dissing / ‘First Person Shooter,’ I hope they came with three switches,” he raps. “Motherfuck the big three, n—a, it’s just big me.” To add insult to injury, he referenced the contentious relationship between Michael Jackson and Prince, comparing himself to the latter and stating that his legacy will outlast their influence. “Your best work is a light pack / N—a, Prince outlived Mike Jack / N—a, bum, ‘fore all your dogs get buried / That’s a K with all these nines, he gon’ see ‘Pet Sematary.’”
https://variety.com/2024/music/news/kendrick-lamar-drake-j-cole-beef-explained-1235951318/
The internet immediately lit up: Lamar’s particularly fiery verse put his issues with other rappers in uncharacteristically plain terms, very clearly taking shots at Drake and J. Cole in response to their song “First Person Shooter,” included on last year’s “For All the Dogs.” On the track, Cole lumped Lamar with himself and Drake as the “big three”: “Love when they argue the hardest MC / Is it K. Dot? Is it Aubrey? Or me? / We the big three, like we started a league.”
In a tightly wound, entendre-replete, machine gun verse, Lamar fired back by refuting the designation and setting himself apart from his peers and former collaborators. “Yeah get up with me, fuck sneak dissing / ‘First Person Shooter,’ I hope they came with three switches,” he raps. “Motherfuck the big three, n—a, it’s just big me.” To add insult to injury, he referenced the contentious relationship between Michael Jackson and Prince, comparing himself to the latter and stating that his legacy will outlast their influence. “Your best work is a light pack / N—a, Prince outlived Mike Jack / N—a, bum, ‘fore all your dogs get buried / That’s a K with all these nines, he gon’ see ‘Pet Sematary.’”
https://variety.com/2024/music/news/kendrick-lamar-drake-j-cole-beef-explained-1235951318/
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! So how do you pick up the pieces after such an epic smackdown? Well for one thing, you probably shouldn’t listen to your fellow rappers’ podcasts. Because they definitely took some sides. And when you take sides in a rap beef, you can bet your ass that fans of the other side will get really pissed and come after you. Which is why we are remaining neutral here in this turkey shoot – no politics at the bar, that’s our one rule here! Well, when it comes to being on rappers’ podcasts, Lil Yachty made that mistake of playing politics in a rap beef – and he paid for it big time! Yeah in the future, you probably shouldn’t do that!
Lil Yachty is easily one of Drake's best friends in the industry right now. However, Yachty has been coming under fire for some recent comments he made pertaining to the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef. Overall, Yachty was mentioned on the song "Euphoria," and many were curious how he felt about that. On his A Safe Place Podcast, Yachty revealed that he knew ahead of time that he was going to catch a stray. Moreover, he even praised Kendrick for "Not Like Us," claiming that the track is an absolute banger.
This subsequently led to a bit of a Twitter war with one of Drake's Stan accounts. Quite frankly, the Stan accounts for Drake have been unhinged throughout this entire debacle. Yachty found that out the hard way, as he exchanged some words with one of them. In the end, however, it appears as though the Stan account may have won. According to Akademiks, Yachty deleted the most recent episode of his podcast. An exact reason was not given, although the Stan account at the center of all of this has taken responsibility.
"Smh yall give these fan pages power when yall do shit like this. If he stand behind it he should’ve just left it up. Your opinion is your opinion them folks a be iight," one person wrote in Akademiks' comments section. "Drake betta send dat ovo chain to shorty," said another. At this point, it seems as though the Stan pages have too much power. Whether or not that ever changes, remains to be seen. With the internet, the average person has access to celebrities, and you get results like this.
https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/804218-lil-yachty-deletes-podcast-kendrick-lamar-drake-diss-hip-hop-news
This subsequently led to a bit of a Twitter war with one of Drake's Stan accounts. Quite frankly, the Stan accounts for Drake have been unhinged throughout this entire debacle. Yachty found that out the hard way, as he exchanged some words with one of them. In the end, however, it appears as though the Stan account may have won. According to Akademiks, Yachty deleted the most recent episode of his podcast. An exact reason was not given, although the Stan account at the center of all of this has taken responsibility.
"Smh yall give these fan pages power when yall do shit like this. If he stand behind it he should’ve just left it up. Your opinion is your opinion them folks a be iight," one person wrote in Akademiks' comments section. "Drake betta send dat ovo chain to shorty," said another. At this point, it seems as though the Stan pages have too much power. Whether or not that ever changes, remains to be seen. With the internet, the average person has access to celebrities, and you get results like this.
https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/804218-lil-yachty-deletes-podcast-kendrick-lamar-drake-diss-hip-hop-news
Yeah Lil’, you’re forgetting the first rule of social media arguments – when you’re already in a hole, the first thing to do is to stop digging! Just ask Kristi Noem how that’s going! What? Too soon? Oh yeah no politics at the bar. I’m forgetting my one rule, damn it! Well perhaps the best part of this whole beef wasn’t that the Drake and Kenrick beef was being compared to the famous beef between Biggie and 2Pac in the 90s, but probably the best part was when Chet Hanks explained to his dad, the legendary Tom Hanks, everything he needed to know about the beef. And the reaction that Mr. Hanks had was nothing short of spectacular!
The Hanks family is now weighing in on Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap feud. Tom Hanks recently reached out to his 33-year-old son, Chet Hanks, for an explanation of the entire scandal because he felt left out of the loop about the all-consuming cultural event the beef has become. Chet Hanks has shared that his father had asked him to explain everything that had happened. He shared the hilarious text chain where he broke it down for his pops on Instagram.
Chet shared screen grabs of the text exchange on his Story, revealing that his father, whom he refers to endearingly as "Pops," had messaged him, asking, "Big Main, could you please explain the Drake/Kendrick Lamar feud to me?" After the dispute between Kendrick Lamar and Drake became viral, it's understandable that an ordinary person couldn't keep up with every detail. Tom Hanks wasn't keeping a close eye on everything that happened because he is Tom Hanks. Thankfully, Chet, who himself is a rapper, was there to explain the monumental feud to his pops.
Naturally, Chet began a long summary of the rappers' dispute, pointing out that since Drake's "Push Ups" in April and May, each of them has been releasing a slew of diss recordings targeted at the other. Next up were K. Dot's “Euphoria,” “6:16 in L.A.” and “Meet the Grahams,” along with Drizzy's since-deleted “Taylor Made Freestyle,” “Family Matters,” and “The Heart Pt. 6.” Chet explained Kendircks mega hit diss "Not Like Us," saying, “pretty much the sonic equivalent of when you took me to your high school in Oakland and we walked in on the basketball game and everybody started going nuts.”
https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/804446-chet-hanks-hilariously-explains-the-drake-vs-kendrick-lamar-beef-to-his-father-tom-hanks-news
Chet shared screen grabs of the text exchange on his Story, revealing that his father, whom he refers to endearingly as "Pops," had messaged him, asking, "Big Main, could you please explain the Drake/Kendrick Lamar feud to me?" After the dispute between Kendrick Lamar and Drake became viral, it's understandable that an ordinary person couldn't keep up with every detail. Tom Hanks wasn't keeping a close eye on everything that happened because he is Tom Hanks. Thankfully, Chet, who himself is a rapper, was there to explain the monumental feud to his pops.
Naturally, Chet began a long summary of the rappers' dispute, pointing out that since Drake's "Push Ups" in April and May, each of them has been releasing a slew of diss recordings targeted at the other. Next up were K. Dot's “Euphoria,” “6:16 in L.A.” and “Meet the Grahams,” along with Drizzy's since-deleted “Taylor Made Freestyle,” “Family Matters,” and “The Heart Pt. 6.” Chet explained Kendircks mega hit diss "Not Like Us," saying, “pretty much the sonic equivalent of when you took me to your high school in Oakland and we walked in on the basketball game and everybody started going nuts.”
https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/804446-chet-hanks-hilariously-explains-the-drake-vs-kendrick-lamar-beef-to-his-father-tom-hanks-news
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[font size="8"] Stupidest State 2024: The Final Four
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16 states will enter and only one state will become the new Top 10 Conservative Idiots Stupidest State!
Ladies and gentlemen, let’s introduce your 2024 Stupidest State Final Four contenders! From the Batshit Conference, #2 – Arizona! From the Fiscal Irresponsibility Conference, #4 – South Dakota! From the Gun Nut Conference - #1 Texas! And from the Family Values Conference, #1 – Alabama! So last week, South Dakota handed Ohio an absolutely shocking upset to advance to their first ever Final Four in state history! Could they be the Cinderella story that wins it all? There’s only one way to find out in this tournament! As usual, in the Final Four, anything goes and the rules of the conferences go out the window! And we’ve got a lot of tournament to get to, so let’s end the introductions and go to the floor, shall we?
[font size="4"]Layover League Championship: Texas Vs Alabama [/font]
[font size="4"]Texas [/font]
The Lone Star State has been on an absolutely unprecedented run – winning two championships and a number of league titles! For one reason – they continue to be run and ruined by the unholy trinity of Murdoch loyalists – Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton, and Dan Patrick. Most of Texas’ problems are currently residing at the United States – Mexico border. Which that itself, the scandal and solution are products of the Fox Ministry Of Propaganda. To which, Texas can throw all of the money that it wants at the problem and they’re not necessarily guaranteed a solution!
To Gov. Greg Abbott, the results of his multibillion-dollar border security initiative are clear.
In a recent television interview, Abbott highlighted a decrease in the number of migrants trying to enter the country through the Rio Grande into Eagle Pass after he ordered the state National Guard to seize a 50-acre public park there. He also noted another statistic: Texas has more than two-thirds of the U.S.-Mexico border, but has recently seen fewer illegal crossings than other border states.
“We are having a profound impact in stopping the flow of illegal immigration into the state of Texas,” Abbott said in the interview, crediting Operation Lone Star, the border security initiative he launched in March 2021.
Federal statistics confirm Abbott’s claim that overall more migrants were encountered by Border Patrol agents outside of Texas each of the first three months of this year. During the 2023 fiscal year, Texas on average accounted for roughly 59% of migrant encounters along the southwest border. During the first half of the 2024 fiscal year, which began in October, Texas has on average accounted for 43% of migrant encounters.
https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/22/texas-border-migrant-apprehensions-abbott-operation-lone-star/
In a recent television interview, Abbott highlighted a decrease in the number of migrants trying to enter the country through the Rio Grande into Eagle Pass after he ordered the state National Guard to seize a 50-acre public park there. He also noted another statistic: Texas has more than two-thirds of the U.S.-Mexico border, but has recently seen fewer illegal crossings than other border states.
“We are having a profound impact in stopping the flow of illegal immigration into the state of Texas,” Abbott said in the interview, crediting Operation Lone Star, the border security initiative he launched in March 2021.
Federal statistics confirm Abbott’s claim that overall more migrants were encountered by Border Patrol agents outside of Texas each of the first three months of this year. During the 2023 fiscal year, Texas on average accounted for roughly 59% of migrant encounters along the southwest border. During the first half of the 2024 fiscal year, which began in October, Texas has on average accounted for 43% of migrant encounters.
https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/22/texas-border-migrant-apprehensions-abbott-operation-lone-star/
Texas is also home to one of the most racist and draconian DEI (Diversity / Equity / Inclusion) bans in the entire country. Which that itself is a product of the most racist and dark corners of the internet – think the Newsmax / OAN / Daily Wire wing of the GOP. And come on, let’s face it – just like Florida, the Texas GOP just doesn’t give a shit about anyone other than straight, white males, and they certainly don’t want sex to be for fun, they only want it to be for the primary function, which is to make babies.
The Texas Senate Committee on Higher Education, chaired by Senator Brandon Creighton (R), met yesterday. They planned to discuss three topics: compliance with the DEI ban, combatting “anti-semitism” on campus, and campus free speech. As I expected, the hearing lasted for nearly 11 hours. Two hundred fourteen people signed up to testify against these restrictive measures, but only 148 stayed to speak by late evening.
Creighton pulled a typical Republican stunt by allowing several panels of invited testimony to speak first, making sure to drag out all of their time. Republicans do this when hundreds of people sign up against awful bills. They try to stretch the invited testimony out as long as they can so that eventually, people will have to leave to go to work, school, or family plans; that way, there are fewer people to tell the Republicans what terrible people they are. It was six hours into the hearing before public testimony began.
Each of the panels was the same: Republican-aligned guests saying the things that Republicans wanted to hear. When they spoke about “anti-semitism” on campus and free speech, they talked about Columbia University and other colleges that have been in the news, pointing to how those non-Texas universities had pro-Palestine protests that included graffiti and the taking over of buildings.
https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/voices-against-the-racist-dei-ban
Creighton pulled a typical Republican stunt by allowing several panels of invited testimony to speak first, making sure to drag out all of their time. Republicans do this when hundreds of people sign up against awful bills. They try to stretch the invited testimony out as long as they can so that eventually, people will have to leave to go to work, school, or family plans; that way, there are fewer people to tell the Republicans what terrible people they are. It was six hours into the hearing before public testimony began.
Each of the panels was the same: Republican-aligned guests saying the things that Republicans wanted to hear. When they spoke about “anti-semitism” on campus and free speech, they talked about Columbia University and other colleges that have been in the news, pointing to how those non-Texas universities had pro-Palestine protests that included graffiti and the taking over of buildings.
https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/voices-against-the-racist-dei-ban
[font size="4"]Alabama[/font]
We hope that the Christian right sleeps easier at night with their ill-gotten gains. Last we checked on the Yellowhammer State, they were still reeling from the fallout from one of the most batshit insane, draconian, backwards-ass rulings on abortion since the GOP usurped power and overturned Roe V Wade after the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, because they were on a massive power trip. I think I’ve run out of adjectives to describe it. But you get my point! But they’re not stopping at abortion, and we’ve yet to see the lengths they will go to for prosecution, because the GOP has a hard-on for the law, or something. Anyway the IVF ruling is merely scratching the surface of how far they will go!
A federal judge smacked down a series of threats by Alabama’s Republican attorney general to prosecute groups that help women obtain out-of-state abortions, wading into a debate over access to the procedure that has lingered since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago.
The plaintiffs, including a group called the Yellowhammer Fund that helps women obtain out-of-state abortions, sued Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall after he suggested prosecution might be possible for groups that “aid and abet abortions,” including by helping women travel out of state.
That issue has been closely watched by advocates on both sides of the abortion debate as red states across the country ban or severely limit access to the procedure in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe. That has forced many women seeking an abortion in a clinical setting to cross state lines.
“The right to interstate travel is one of our most fundamental constitutional rights,” US District Judge Myron Thompson wrote in a preliminary ruling late Monday.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/federal-judge-blasts-threat-alabama-112135650.html
The plaintiffs, including a group called the Yellowhammer Fund that helps women obtain out-of-state abortions, sued Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall after he suggested prosecution might be possible for groups that “aid and abet abortions,” including by helping women travel out of state.
That issue has been closely watched by advocates on both sides of the abortion debate as red states across the country ban or severely limit access to the procedure in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe. That has forced many women seeking an abortion in a clinical setting to cross state lines.
“The right to interstate travel is one of our most fundamental constitutional rights,” US District Judge Myron Thompson wrote in a preliminary ruling late Monday.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/federal-judge-blasts-threat-alabama-112135650.html
Damn right it does! But the one thing they didn’t count on is how important elections are and how much it absolutely helps to pay attention to every single person you vote for, and vote at every single level no matter what the position is. Because if you don’t, Fox News just might decide to do it for you! In fact this ruling is so controversial that everyone is trying to distance themselves from it. Even Brett Kavanaugh’s own words aren’t enough to dissuade the MAGA anti-abortionists from going even further. WTF.
A federal judge used the words of conservative Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh to shoot down an effort to dismiss lawsuits challenging right-wing Alabama prosecutions.
The state’s attorney general has vowed to prosecute anybody helping residents travel elsewhere in the country to seek abortions after Alabama banned them with no exceptions. Pro-reproductive rights group Yellowhammer Fund, along with the ACLU, sued and claimed Attorney General Steve Marshall’s action would be a violation of constitutional rights.
But Marshall, a Republican, filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuits. "An elective abortion performed in Alabama would be a criminal offense; thus, a conspiracy formed in the State to have that same act performed outside the State is illegal," Marshall's office wrote.
This week, U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson denied the motion, reported Newsweek. He used the words written by Kavanaugh in his concurring opinion in the ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade. Thompson wrote that the state, "cannot constitutionally prosecute people for acts taken within the State meant to facilitate lawful out of state conduct, including obtaining an abortion."
https://www.rawstory.com/brett-kavanaugh-2668210191/
The state’s attorney general has vowed to prosecute anybody helping residents travel elsewhere in the country to seek abortions after Alabama banned them with no exceptions. Pro-reproductive rights group Yellowhammer Fund, along with the ACLU, sued and claimed Attorney General Steve Marshall’s action would be a violation of constitutional rights.
But Marshall, a Republican, filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuits. "An elective abortion performed in Alabama would be a criminal offense; thus, a conspiracy formed in the State to have that same act performed outside the State is illegal," Marshall's office wrote.
This week, U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson denied the motion, reported Newsweek. He used the words written by Kavanaugh in his concurring opinion in the ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade. Thompson wrote that the state, "cannot constitutionally prosecute people for acts taken within the State meant to facilitate lawful out of state conduct, including obtaining an abortion."
https://www.rawstory.com/brett-kavanaugh-2668210191/
[font size="4"]And The Winner Is: [/font]
This is a close one, folks! Tied at 85 with a minute and a half to go! Alabama has the ball… for three… YES!!!! Now a foul has been called! Alabama shoots… it’s in. Texas has the ball, for two! No good! Now the ball is back in Alabama’s court! For three… YES!!! And that’s all she wrote, folks! Alabama has fought off Texas and punched their ticket to their first ever championship! They are celebrating on the court, the Texas fans are going home crying! Final score: 93 – 85! Alabama has won the Layover League! Cut that net, guys! You earned it!
[font size="4"]Flyover League Championship: Arizona vs South Dakota [/font]
[font size="4"]Arizona [/font]
Just like Alabama, the Grand Canyon State is still reeling from one of the most batshit insane, draconian rulings on abortion enacted since the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 2020 and the GOP usurped power in the Supreme Court and overturned Roe V Wade. Well, we hope the Christian right sleeps easier at night with their ill-gotten gains. Well also like Alabama, it’s put some much needed attention to our country’s state Supreme Courts, which are just as important as the big one. But while the state and governor Hobbs vetoed the controversial resolution, the fight isn’t over, my friends. Oh no, it’s just getting started. But the fact that they want to roll back abortion rights 100 years means they’re desperate to hang onto power. And it also shows there’s no limit to how far they’re willing to go to control the population.
The Arizona Supreme Court won't revisit its conclusion that an 1864 law, outlawing virtually all abortions, remains valid.
In a brief order late Friday, the justices declined a request from Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes to reconsider their April 9 ruling. That decision found that the old law, which forbids abortion except to save the life of the mother, trumps a more recent statute that allows abortions until the 15th week of pregnancy.
The justices gave no reason for rejecting Mayes' bid but took only three days to do so.
An aide to Mayes said she had no immediate comment.
The request for reconsideration did, however, serve a purpose of sorts for Mayes, who opposes the abortion ban. It delayed by two weeks when the state will once again be able to start enforcing the territorial-era law, which has long been on hold. Now it appears the soonest that can happen is June 25.
https://tucson.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/arizona-supreme-court-1864-abortion-law-ban-attorney-general-legislature/article_0889832a-043a-11ef-905a-076b70b9f59a.html
In a brief order late Friday, the justices declined a request from Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes to reconsider their April 9 ruling. That decision found that the old law, which forbids abortion except to save the life of the mother, trumps a more recent statute that allows abortions until the 15th week of pregnancy.
The justices gave no reason for rejecting Mayes' bid but took only three days to do so.
An aide to Mayes said she had no immediate comment.
The request for reconsideration did, however, serve a purpose of sorts for Mayes, who opposes the abortion ban. It delayed by two weeks when the state will once again be able to start enforcing the territorial-era law, which has long been on hold. Now it appears the soonest that can happen is June 25.
https://tucson.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/arizona-supreme-court-1864-abortion-law-ban-attorney-general-legislature/article_0889832a-043a-11ef-905a-076b70b9f59a.html
And in addition to the abortion ruling, Arizona is also dealing with the fallout from probably the most ridiculous, over the top, hair-brained scheme to overturn the 2020 election and install that former guy with the most all star cast of MAGAs we’ve seen yet. And one of those might be one of the stupidest criminals in the entire world – Rudy Giuliani. Yes, he went from America’s mayor and one time presidential candidate to indicted MAGA felon. Oh how the mighty have fallen!
Nine Arizona Republicans and two Trump aides pleaded not guilty in a Maricopa County court Tuesday to criminal charges stemming from a plan to keep Donald Trump in the White House by falsely certifying he won the state in 2020.
"I drove two and half hours for this," said Stuart Green, who is retired and lives north of Sedona, before he entered the courtroom to watch. "I wanted to see the faces of the people who tried to end our democracy."
Eighteen people were indicted by a grand jury in April in connection with a plan for Arizona's Republican electors to pretend Trump won the state's popular vote. All face nine felony counts, including conspiracy, forgery and fraud. If convicted, they could face time in prison. But state law allows for less severe penalties, including probation, depending on a defendant's circumstances, like past criminal history.
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/05/21/fake-electors-trump-aides-to-enter-pleas-in-maricopa-county-court/73675956007/
"I drove two and half hours for this," said Stuart Green, who is retired and lives north of Sedona, before he entered the courtroom to watch. "I wanted to see the faces of the people who tried to end our democracy."
Eighteen people were indicted by a grand jury in April in connection with a plan for Arizona's Republican electors to pretend Trump won the state's popular vote. All face nine felony counts, including conspiracy, forgery and fraud. If convicted, they could face time in prison. But state law allows for less severe penalties, including probation, depending on a defendant's circumstances, like past criminal history.
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/05/21/fake-electors-trump-aides-to-enter-pleas-in-maricopa-county-court/73675956007/
[font size="4"]South Dakota [/font]
The Mt. Rushmore State has been in the news a lot lately, especially since their Fox News installed governor, Kristi Noem, admitted to murdering her dog. Which is something that you should probably never, ever do under any circumstances. Because you will be known forever as a dog murderer, and that’s something that no one should ever have on their resume. Her advisors even told her this was a terrible idea from the beginning. And she still ignored them. The sad thing is that she probably won’t be fired no matter how terrible this admission was. And even some of America’s most hardline social media trolls and gun nuts thought this crossed a line that shouldn’t have been crossed. But there’s no bottom for the MAGAs, none.
Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota would like to speak to the manager. The Republican took to social media on Sunday to complain that she’d been unfairly grilled by Margaret Brennan in a catastrophic appearance on CBS’ Face the Nation hours earlier, alleging that her Democratic counterparts would never have been subjected to such fierce interrogation. Having crunched the numbers, Noem posted on X: “This morning in our 15-minute interview, Margaret Brennan interrupted me 36 times—once every 25 seconds on average.” Though her math checks out, the governor was not actually “interrupted” by Brennan nearly as much as she claimed. As Noem steamrolled through her answers to the CBS host’s questions, Brennan attempted to interject just over a dozen times, resulting in crosstalk that just as often ended with Noem continuing to plough forward without answering the query.
Noem clearly felt the heat even in the midst of the interview, however. At one point, her expression still perfectly neutral, the governor asked, “Why am I being treated differently than every other person that you’ve interviewed? You don’t interrupt other people. You let them talk.” She pressed that point in her X post. “But when liberals like [Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer] and [former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi] are on @FaceTheNation, they aren’t interrupted once,” Noem said. “In the fake news media, there are two sets of rules, and conservative[s] are always treated differently,” she continued. “That’s why Americans don’t trust the Fake News.” Noem struggled to keep to her talking points in the CBS interview, insisting to Brennan—who opened by asking whether the governor had actually ever met Kim Jong Un, as her upcoming book claimed—that she wasn’t going to talk about her “specific” encounters with world leaders, of whom she’d met “many, many.”
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100218927439
Noem clearly felt the heat even in the midst of the interview, however. At one point, her expression still perfectly neutral, the governor asked, “Why am I being treated differently than every other person that you’ve interviewed? You don’t interrupt other people. You let them talk.” She pressed that point in her X post. “But when liberals like [Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer] and [former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi] are on @FaceTheNation, they aren’t interrupted once,” Noem said. “In the fake news media, there are two sets of rules, and conservative[s] are always treated differently,” she continued. “That’s why Americans don’t trust the Fake News.” Noem struggled to keep to her talking points in the CBS interview, insisting to Brennan—who opened by asking whether the governor had actually ever met Kim Jong Un, as her upcoming book claimed—that she wasn’t going to talk about her “specific” encounters with world leaders, of whom she’d met “many, many.”
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100218927439
And you know what else is insane about the Mt. Rushmore State? It’s the only state in the entire country where the governor is forbidden and banned from visiting a very sizeable portion of her state, because it’s occupied by Native American tribes. And the tribal leaders recently got together and decided that Gov. Noem was too extremist for their taste. Last time we checked, she was banned from visiting the land of 6 of the 9 tribes. Now? All nine have banned her. I don’t know about you, but I like governors who aren’t banned from state lands.
All nine South Dakota tribes have officially endorsed the banishment of Gov. Kristi Noem from their lands.
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe’s executive council voted Tuesday in favor of banishing the South Dakota governor from their reservation after she made disparaging remarks earlier this year against Native American parents during a town hall in Mitchell, saying their children “have no hope.”
She has also continually pushed claims that Mexican drug cartels have a “presence” on South Dakota Indian reservations.
This has placed Flandreau Santee Sioux leaders under pressure from their citizenry to punish Noem for her comments.
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/05/21/south-dakota-tribes-vote-to-banish-governor-kristi-noem/73793500007/
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe’s executive council voted Tuesday in favor of banishing the South Dakota governor from their reservation after she made disparaging remarks earlier this year against Native American parents during a town hall in Mitchell, saying their children “have no hope.”
She has also continually pushed claims that Mexican drug cartels have a “presence” on South Dakota Indian reservations.
This has placed Flandreau Santee Sioux leaders under pressure from their citizenry to punish Noem for her comments.
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/05/21/south-dakota-tribes-vote-to-banish-governor-kristi-noem/73793500007/
[font size="4"]And The Winner Is:[/font]
Oh this one is absolutely no contest here! Arizona with the ball, less than 90 seconds to go, the score is now 114 – 105, Arizona for three.. YES!!! South Dakota with a foul… one is in. The other one… in! And that’s game! Arizona is going to the Finals! They have taken the Flyover League and are celebrating on the court! Final score: 117 – 107! Cut that net, guys! You earned it!
[font size="4"]Next Week:[/font]
Next week it’s the Stupidest State Championship! Arizona. Alabama. One of these two states will win it all! We’re live from the home of champions, the Lakers and Kings, the fabulous crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, with the matchup, the trophy presentation, and of course that song that we all know and love! IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS! The champagne is on ice!
[font size="4"]And Now This: [/font]
[font size="4"]Hozier[/font]
Ladies and gentlemen, my next guest is one of the best singer – songwriters out there, his latest album is called Unreal Unearth. You can see him on tour through this September. Playing his song “Eat Your Young”, give it up for Hozier!
Thank you Oxnard! We’ll be back home at the Observatory OC next week with our season finale and the Stupidest State 2024 Championship! See you next week!
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